Last week, last month, for 16 some years,
I was Aunt Tone to Steph
And I held her so dear
Wishing for her only the best

When she was young and not very tall
It was such fun to spoil her and take her around
When she ran I worried she might take a fall
Once asleep, her breathing was a sweet sound

Just pals we were then
Our interests the same
A good time at Disneyland
Reading and games

Mornings were hard work, getting her fed
“Five more minutes, pleeease”
She would beg from her bed
Sometimes inventing a new morning disease

Next, it was time to brush her hair
She squirmed and she pleaded
Though I worked with great care
Then it was on to getting her fed

Getting dressed was fairly simple
If both shoes were around
If her choices weren’t wrinkled
And easily found

When she got older
And got dressed on her own
The mornings were easier
She really had grown

I loved making her cakes
Only chocolate would do
All sizes and shapes
She outgrew those too

When I was ill
She made me pictures and cards
Grimacing with me when it was time for a pill
Making it easier when life was so hard
When I got better
We launched a campaign
To collect Beanie Babies
With the cutest names

And there was Uncle Wayne
She loved to hide and give him a start
They were so much the same
She really owned his heart

In basketball and soccer games
She showed her worth
We called out her name
As she sped down the court

The cancer returned
My leg would be lost
So we sped off to see Mickey
No matter the cost

Then, so suddenly she was a teen
It happened in a whirl
But there were moments between boyfriends
When she was still our little girl

It wasn’t all perfect
We both would get riled
But no purer love, have I ever felt
Than mine for that child

The last time I saw her
She & Johnny talked of the prom
What color to wear?
Short dress or long?

She held her niece Lily,
And told of her grades and doing so well
Previous worries seemed silly
But you can just never tell

So now I’m just Toni
I’m nobody’s aunt
I am left lonely
There’s no second chance
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