The Last Piece

This check arrived last October. A refund from the federal government. From Bobbe’s tax return for 2017. She died November 24th that year.

It’s the last piece of her estate. The amount of paperwork and waiting it took for this is a book in itself. One I wish was never written.

Somewhere on the right, under the amount, the words “Void After One Year” appear. So I held it for 362 days and deposited it Saturday.

I wanted to keep as much of my mother with me as possible. For as long as possible. Her other checks are long ago cashed. Now, this one.

Bobbe has been in heaven for almost three years. The legal tasks are complete. The emotional stuff? Grief doesn’t have an expiration date.

All This By Hand
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