Pele‘s widow has admitted she feels an ’empty space’ sucking the air out of her in a poignant open letter written one month after the football legend’s death.
Marcia Aoki also admitted getting used to not having her ‘reason for living’ beside her would take time.
The paediatrician’s daughter, 25 years Pele’s junior when they married in July 2016 six years after they started dating, wrote in the two page letter posted on the footballer’s official Instagram: ‘Saying goodbye to someone I love and getting used to not having my reason for living, his love full of affection, his unique humour and his complicity, will take some time.
‘I wanted a few more minutes of exchanging glances. Some more days to play with our puppy Cacau.
Marcia Aoki (right), the widow of football legend Pele (left), has admitted she feels an ’empty space’ sucking the air out of her in a poignant open letter written one month after his death
Pele’s widow Marcia Aoki’s tribute to her late husband
‘I catch myself waiting for you to say to me, ‘Marcia, my love, good morning. Look how beautiful the sea is today.
‘Despite knowing this is an inevitable destiny for all of us, for me the realisation this moment arrived is the feeling of an empty space, of absence, that pushes down on my chest.
‘But there’s also another sentiment, one of huge gratitude for being able to share my pain with the rest of the world.
‘We received thousands of messages of affection and solidarity, that filled our hearts with comfort and peace.
‘I want to thank all the fans who still pay homage even now, as well as Santos Football Club and the city of Santos, who treated us so well in such difficult times.’
Pele’s widow Marcia Aoki (left), attends the 7th day mass at Santo Antonio do Embare church in Santos, Brazil on January 11
Referring to her late husband by his birth name of Edson, she added: ‘Sharing my life with Edson meant a true story of unique love. Sharing Pele’s love with you as well.
‘This love will never die and will continue between us. Eternally.’
The 56-year-old paediatrician’s daughter, who is of Japanese origin, signed off her open letter, ‘With affection, Marcia Aoki, Pele’s widow.’
Earlier in the day Pele‘s daughter shared a touching tribute to her late father, who died aged 82 on December 29 at the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital in Sao Paulo after a lengthy battle against colon cancer.
Pele, pictured here in 2014, died on December 29 in Brazil at the age of 82 after multiple organ failure
Pele’s daughters Kely (right) and Flavia Nascimento (left) with President of Brazilian Football Federation Enaldo Rodrigues (centre)
Kely Nascimento said alongside a series of photos she shared online of her with her dad: ‘One month without you.
‘A month of many tributes, many tight hugs, many stories told by strangers with teary eyes, a lot of remembering, a lot of crying and a lot of laughter.
‘Today and always, thank you for sharing with me our sense of humour, our huge head, our optimism, our ability to enjoy the simple things in life, our work ethic, our love of hotels, airports and airplanes.
‘More than anything, thank you for my brothers and sisters, for teaching us that it’s nicer to sleep all in one room alone than each one in his own room, that it’s more enjoyable to squeeze everyone at a table than to eat at separate tables.
‘In the end: it’s always better to be all well together.
‘Thank you thank you thank you eternally grateful.’