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 PEOPLE I LOVE


We are all perfectly placed.

I dont know your name. You lived at 51 Carrol Ave, Millgrove in 1994. You were my neighbour. 

I was a 14 year old pregnant girl. 

You could hear the screams, I know because you told me. You cried and I thought I'd upset you. "No, you sweetly replied. Not you. You could never upset me." 

You had a young son. I think his name was Callum but my memory is distorted from the trauma so that might not be his name and I may never know yours!

What was never distorted though was your gentle kindness..... 

I remember meeting you the first time. I'd knocked on your door to ask if you had put a collar on my cat. Weird I know! 

I had a kitten that I really loved. Stony. A little black and white bundle of joy. I didn't have any money though and didn't really know how to care for myself yet alone a pet. So when my kitten showed up with a fancy collar I was a little confused. 

You had cats too. Well loved and cared for cats with collars and name tags and vet visits! I noticed your cats and really wanted a collar like theirs. Which is why I probably knocked on your door that day. 

"Did you put a collar on my cat? Cause I cant pay you if you did." All fierce and defiant and utterly terrified. 

She looked at me, invited me in and said "I did sweetheart. I noticed how much you love your kitten. Your always playing with her and loving her so well. I thought she deserved a nice new collar. You don't have to pay for it! Its a gift." 

I told you about the baby. How I would love it even more than Stony! I told you about him, my Guardian, the father of my baby. I said how scared I was that I wouldn't be able to buy anything because I wasn't allowed to touch the money. 

"I got beat up real bad", I said, when I took 50 cents from his wallet. I knew he had to mail these special forms each week for his money and he had forgotten. I thought I was helping but he was so mad I went in his wallet. Even his mum hit me. Then she got upset so they made me sleep outside that night, on the doorstep. 

You listened. Literally that is all you did. You gave me space and grace and I had experienced neither. 

A week later you brought over a bunch of your sons things, toys, clothes a car seat. "I was clearing out some old things and I thought you might like them", you said. 

You just placed them inside the door. You didn't intrude. Didn't get me into trouble. I just called you, 'the weird neighbour' and he left me alone. Happy he didn't have to pay for anything. 

I sat their amidst all these treasures. My little mind overwhelmed by you, a grown up lady mum, just giving to me for nothing. I thought, I want to be just like her when I'm a mum.

Sadly I lost my baby 2 weeks later. While still in hospital my partner sold all the beautiful baby things and a week or so later we were moving. 

To a tiny country town in SA with no neighbours or inquisitive 'busybodies' for miles. It was very effective. Teaching me not to rely on anyone or anything. If I did it could just be taken from me, just like that. 

It taught me something else too. Something that has survived all this time. 

As old things fell away, this lesson stayed. Growing stronger as I did. 

You matter!!

Your little matters!!

Your input matters!! 

Listening and loving matters!!

And finally....

Real love in all its forms, even the tiny, tiny acts of love, will always, always outlive hate! 


Dear Neighbour, 

I may not know your name but I know your heart and I live your lesson everyday that I'm given. 

You mattered more than you will ever know. 

Thank you. 

I hope I've made you proud. 


❤

Ange

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