AllFreeNovel
Share Us
* * *
“Hans.”Dad’s voice is brittle, but I hear it as I pass his room.
Pausing my steps, I press my hand to his door, and it swings open.
Dad is in his bed, face pale, cheeks sunken in as he fights his way through a coughing fit.
It’s been exactly one week since Mom’s last breath, and he looks ready for his.
He lifts his hand, a small movement gesturing me in.
We haven’t talked. Not to each other. There’s nothing to say.
The first few times someone came to our door, offering condolences, bringing food, I answered. I kept a passive look on my face. But then I couldn’t anymore.
I couldn’t hide the rage that filled me.
I couldn’t say thank you.
And then the people stopped knocking.
My feet are quiet on the thick rug covering the floor. It’s shades of red. Embroidered flowers of every shape and size. Mom picked it out. It was soher.
I stop at the foot of the bed.
If this is going to be our goodbye…
I swallow.
I’m not sure how much more I can handle.
I don’t know how much my heart can endure.
But as I look at my father, I realize he’s already gone.
I place my hand on the blanket over his foot. “It’s okay, Dad.”
His chin quivers, and his chest shakes with his inhales.
“Come here.” He raises an arm.
Slowly, I move to the side of the bed, then bend down and gently hug his shoulders.
A hand rests against my back.
This is it, then.
When I pull back, his eyes slide over to his nightstand.
I follow his gaze.
Sitting next to the framed photo of him and Mom on their wedding day is an ornately carved wooden box.
I recognize it. It was my grandfather’s, given to my father. And now to me.
I stand before it.
The latch doesn’t lock, and the hinge has been kept oiled, so it opens smoothly.
