Today has been really hard

My great aunt died last night.
She lived alone outside Chicago
and I haven't seen her in far too long.
She was independent and spunky
and short.
She was a part of my childhood family gatherings
singing and telling stories
making me who I am.
We wrote each other letters
when I was in college and when I was a US-2.
She's been sick for a while.
Her passing is not a shock,
but still a loss.
She loved me.
And now there is at least one less person who does.

I am sad.