TimeBy: Jacob Foster
Date: April 22, 2025
I was on my way home after a long weekend spent visiting my parents, and something strange hit me as I walked out the door and into the sunlight. It wasn’t just the usual rush of relief that comes with leaving home; it was this profound feeling that everything had changed. The image of them stayed with me—the way my mother’s hands seemed so much softer now, the way my dad had lost so much weight. Small, subtle shifts, but ones that are impossible to ignore.
I’ve always been used to seeing my parents as the pillars of my life, the foundation I could lean on. They were strong, full of energy, and always there to guide me. But now, all I could think about was how the years had carved their mark in ways I never thought about until now. The lines on their faces, the tiredness in their eyes. They’re still here, but they’re different, and I can’t help but feel like time is running out for all the moments I never noticed slipping by.
I looked at my mom and couldn’t help but remember her hands—those hands that used to feel so firm and sure, the ones that held me close when I was scared, the ones that gave me comfort during my worst days. Now, they seemed fragile, more delicate than they used to be. And then there was Dad, who always seemed larger than life, never one to back down from a challenge, now so much thinner than before. His once boisterous laughter had softened, replaced by a quieter, almost melancholic version of himself.
It’s funny, the things you don’t notice until they’re staring you in the face. I found myself longing for those days when I would look up at my parents and see them as these untouchable forces, like they had the world in their hands and nothing could break them. Now, I’m looking at them, and I can see their fragility. I can see the weight they’ve carried over the years, all of the struggles and sacrifices they’ve made for us.
I can’t stop thinking about how I wish I could turn back time. I wish I could relive those moments of childhood when my parents’ eyes sparkled with youthful energy, when they were full of dreams and hopes. The reality is that they’ve grown older, just like all of us do. And it’s heartbreaking to think that I may never see that youthful glow in their eyes again.
The thought of them aging, the thought of them not being the people I’ve always known and loved, is a hard pill to swallow. But I guess that’s just part of life, isn’t it? Time passes, things change, and we have to learn to cherish the moments we still have. The thing is, I’m not sure how to say goodbye to the version of them I grew up with. How do you let go of the parents you once saw as invincible?
