AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He stepped in when I needed help with Travis.
A tough man with a tough shell, but I never once doubted the existence of a heart.
And now…
“He told me he was going to die,” Travis said.
“Oh?”
“Yeah. He told me. Today.”
I shook my head. “What? Are you being serious, Travis?”
“This morning,” Travis said. “Before I left for practice. He called me into the room and made me stand at the edge of the bed. He had that serious look on his face. He told me that his time was up. He wanted me to know he regretted a lot about his life but there was more happiness than sadness. He told me I could cry behind closed doors but after that it was time to dry my eyes and look forward.”
“And he said he was going to die…”
“Yes. He said he loved me and he gave me a wet kiss on my right cheek. I didn’t know what to do.”
“Nothing to do,” I said. “Travis, he was old and sick. He should not have said that to you.”
“Why not? I got to say goodbye to him. A real goodbye to him. Mom, I’m really sad, but I think a little happy because he said goodbye to me.”
My eyes filled with tears.
My little boy was growing up right before my eyes.
Death right there inside his own house and he handled it better than I did.
I tasted the horrible cigarette aftertaste.
“We don’t have to stay here tonight, Travis. Just so you know. It can be a lot to-”
“This is our home,” he said. “Mom, I’ve got this.”
With that said, Travis stood and suddenly looked like a fully grown man.
I stared up at my son, proud of him.
“Mom.”
“Travis.”
“No more cigarettes.”
“Never again,” I said. “I swear on my life.”
“I hope so. I hope you don’t disappointment me.”
Travis went back inside and I exhaled a breath that turned into a full blown crying session.
Quiet gasps, clear boogers and all.
I sat longwise on the step now.
Just taking in the semi-warm night air.
Taking deep breaths and riding the waves of emotion that hit me.
