Benedict Rodriguez.
Born on Saint Benedict day hence his name.
For my mom and his friends he was Benny. Benny from the Bronx.
Benny was a safe space for so many.
His siblings, cousins and my brother and me.
I remember a trip to Florida as a kid. There was an electrical storm.
I think in a previous life, I died in a tornado which is why extreme weather scares me so much.
We were outside when this storm blew in. I buried my head in my dad’s stomach.
He held me tight.
I knew I was safe.
It’s ironic because what was the beginning of the end for him was a lyposarcoma in his stomach.
What was once so safe.
I remember when he got the lyposarcoma removed from his stomach, he commented that he felt less strong.
He thought his strength was in his stomach.
I think his strength was in his character. He was a man who would hold his daughter close in a storm and never let her go.
I miss him so much and I will live in his honor.