There’s a moment that stands out in my life, one that I will carry with me forever. It’s a story about anger, reconciliation, and the fleeting nature of life—a story that taught me the power of saying “I’m sorry” and “I love you” while there’s still time.
It started with a fight, a heated argument with someone who meant the world to me. She was more than family; she was like a second mother to me. We were close, but like any relationship, we had our ups and downs. On this particular day, something small turned into something big, and before I knew it, we were shouting at each other, saying things we didn’t mean. The hurt was deep on both sides, and after that, we stopped talking.
Days turned into weeks, and the silence between us grew heavier with each passing day. I kept replaying the argument in my head, the sharp words, the anger, and the regret that followed. I knew I was wrong, and I knew I needed to make things right. But pride is a tricky thing—it holds you back, makes you stubborn, and convinces you that you have all the time in the world.
But time is a thief.
I don’t know what finally made me pick up the phone. Maybe it was a whisper from God, a nudge in my heart that I couldn’t ignore. I called her, and when she answered, I felt all the walls I’d built around my heart start to crumble. The first thing I said was, “I’m sorry. I love you.”
There was a pause on the other end, and for a moment, I was afraid she wouldn’t forgive me. But then she spoke, and her voice was warm, full of love and relief. “I love you too,” she said, and just like that, the tension melted away. We started talking, really talking, the way we used to before that awful fight. We reminisced, caught up on each other’s lives, and shared stories. And then I made her laugh—really laugh. It was one of those laughs that come from deep inside, the kind that makes your whole body shake. She laughed so hard that she couldn’t stop, and hearing her laugh like that made me feel lighter than I had in weeks.
That conversation was a gift. It was a reminder of why she was so special to me, why she had always been like a second mother. We talked about everything and nothing, and when we finally hung up, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was so grateful that I had reached out, that we had that time together.
Not long after, she passed away. It was sudden and unexpected, and it happened around Mother’s Day, a time when I was already thinking about the women who had shaped my life. Losing her was like losing a piece of myself, but in the midst of the grief, I found comfort in that last conversation. I found comfort in the memory of her laughter.
I often think about how different things could have been if I hadn’t made that call. What if we had never made up? What if our last words to each other had been those angry ones? The thought of that is unbearable. But instead, I have the memory of her laughter, the sound of her joy, and the peace that comes with knowing that our last words to each other were words of love.
Life is so fragile. We can be here one minute and gone the next. That’s why it’s so important to make things right with the people we care about. We should never let pride or anger keep us from saying “I’m sorry” or “I love you.” Those words can heal wounds, mend broken relationships, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
So, if there’s someone you’ve been holding a grudge against, someone you’ve been avoiding because of a fight or a disagreement, I urge you to reach out to them. Say the words that need to be said. Don’t wait, because you never know how much time you have left.
I’ll always cherish that last conversation with her. It was a moment of grace, a moment of forgiveness, and a moment of love. And every time I think of her, I smile, knowing that our last memory together was filled with laughter.