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Aunt Sandy with the Candy
- Kiyaza
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Every December, Aunt Sandy’s house smelled like sugar and cinnamon before you even reached the porch. Kids called her “Aunt Sandy with the Candy” because she always had something sweet waiting: peppermint candies, slices of sweet potato pie, and fudge lined up on glass trays like treasures. Her husband, Flip, used to joke that she sprinkled love and exhaustion in equal parts into every recipe.
This year, though, love was running low and exhaustion was winning.
It started with the headaches. Then, the dizzy spells. The doctor said it was stress, told her to rest. But how could she? The family expected her holiday spread: gumbo, fried turkey, and twelve pies. The laughter, the warmth, the magic. She carried that tradition like an invisible badge of honor… and a weight on her chest.
One night, after stirring fudge for the fifth hour straight, Sandy sat down at the kitchen table. Her hands trembled. Flip walked in quietly, towel over his shoulder.
“You ain’t even touched your tea,” he said.
She looked at him, eyes tired but soft. “I can’t keep this up, Flip. Every year I do it all. I smile, I serve, I make it look easy… but it’s not. I feel like I’m disappearing trying to keep everybody happy.”
Flip pulled out a chair beside her. “You been holdin’ that in for too long.”
Her voice cracked. “I’m scared to stop. If I rest, I feel like I’m letting them down. But I’m so tired, Flip. So tired that my body’s tellin’ me I can’t keep pushing.”
Flip reached for her hand. “Baby, you can’t pour no sweet tea from an empty pitcher. You done gave this family love for decades. It’s time they pour some back into you.”
The next morning, he made some calls to her nieces, nephews, and cousins. When the family showed up that weekend, Sandy thought they were there for the usual decorating party. Instead, Flip stood at the door and said, “This year, we’re takin’ care of Aunt Sandy.”
At first, she protested. But then she saw the joy in their faces. The way her nieces were rolling dough, her nephews stringing lights, her sister humming while washing dishes. The kitchen filled with the same warmth it always had, except now Sandy was sitting on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, sipping her tea while watching them.
The candy still got made, but this time, it wasn’t just Aunt Sandy’s love in every piece; it was the family’s.
By Christmas Eve, she felt her shoulders drop for the first time in years. Flip kissed her forehead and whispered, “See? The sweetness don’t disappear when you rest. It just spreads.”
Aunt Sandy smiled, a real smile, and said, “Maybe next year I’ll just be Aunt Sandy. No candy required.”
The family laughed. But when the candy trays came out that night made by loving hands other than hers, they all agreed it tasted just as sweet.
About Kiyaza
Kiyaza the Poet is a multifaceted author and creative whose work bridges poetry, design, and self-discovery. In her book Lost Between the Sheets, she invites readers into her intimate journey through relationships, friendships, and the layered experiences of life as a Black woman. Beyond her literary voice, Kiyaza channels her artistry into Water Lily Studios, a design platform of journals and planners, where she encourages reflection, creativity, organization, and self-sufficiency in everyday life.
Her latest creation, Poetry in Bloom, is a collection of handmade, framed poems adorned with pressed flowers, celebrating beauty, resilience, and the art of storytelling.
Kiyaza’s writing focuses on the raw and reflective journey of self-discovery while exploring love, loss, healing, and growth through the lens of a millennial Black woman.
Connect with Kiyaza!
Email: createdbyzakiya@gmail.com
Instagram: @kiyazawrites
Website: www.zakiyacreates.com
Book: Lost Between the Sheets vol. 1 : https://a.co/d/6PaU3bV
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