Dear Maddy,

I cursed the earth and I cursed the ocean for a long time. I cursed it for its power and dark twisted secrets. I cursed the wind on that day, I cursed the strange dip in temperature. I cursed for how it shattered our family’s life, the unmendable holes it bore in everyone I loved. I cursed it for the birthday invitations your friends already received and the new one on its way. I cursed it the most for how it swallowed your only protector that day, leaving just your body to float while the earth completed its usual rotation. I cursed that I was not with you on the boat and I curse time for not working how people say.

We built you a butterfly garden at your school. I no longer curse the earth and even though you no longer need protection, I promise to protect your butterfly garden because this time I am in earshot of someone in need, our home, our earth and I will not let another beautiful, funny, brilliant and innocent sister slip away.

In addition to protecting your butterfly garden to help promote pollination and healthy ecosystems, I will continue to vote Green and advocate for voting in every Provincial and Federal election so that we can set the pace for the transition away from carbon-polluting fuels to brighter and more sustainable energy and so that we don’t give the government a pass on things like logging of old growth forests.

I will fight for the things that will help protect your butterfly garden so you will forever be bright.

Love,

your sister