37. Lulu’s Journal

July 20, 2019

Gram gave me this journal to help me make sense of everything happening. She says if I write down what I’m afraid of, it won’t have such power over me.

My name is Lulu Rose Carter, and I’m twelve, almost thirteen. I love reading books and riding my horse, Remy, and I love my family.

If this summer taught me anything, it’s that just because you forget something doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. It’s still written in the pathways of your heart and the hearts of those you love. Our memories are fragile. They break easily and with no real reason. But the emotions they carve in our souls last forever.

Gram’s hand in mine, her pancakes on cold mornings, her no-nonsense laugh, the way she listens to me, the love in her eyes when she watches Clay play, the patience when Mom needed it, the strength when she helped Dad keep his family together. Gram is in each of these memories.

I will never forget.

I fill a notebook with Gram’s stories. But I also begin to write my own. And I’m starting to understand why Mom paints, and how art can help make sense of life.