Pa

Spend As Much Time As You Can With Your Loved Ones.

PA

A phone starts ringing in the quiet and little apartment. An old man walks slowly towards it and settles on the sofa nearby before taking the call. “Hello.” The old man spoke. A hoarse voice answered. “Hi pa, I won’t be coming home for dinner today, I have a lot of work today, bye.” The old man put the phone down. His face looked sad. He slowly got up and shuffled his way to his bedroom so that he could lie down.

Day after day, the old man waited for someone to come knocking at the front door. Days turned into weeks and then into months. He was getting more tired day by day but he still waited.  Finally, it was the old man’s birthday. No phone call or knocking on the door. He did the usual, he checked his mailbox and watered his plants. As he was sorting out his mail, he saw a card from his son. The card said, ‘Hi pa, have a great day and a happy birthday, work is still piling up. I’ll call you soon.’ The old man smiled as he read the card and then dialed to his son.

‘Rrrrrr-Rrrrr,’ a soft vibration was heard in the quiet office cubicle. It was picked up by a man in his early thirties. “Hi pa, happy birthday. Sorry I can’t be there with you. I just got a new project and I’m getting busier by the hour. I’ll call you soon and happy birthday.” Behind him, a lady walked to him and said, “I know you are really busy but shouldn’t you take a day off. Look, I know this project is really important to you but at least take some time to see him, ok?” The man only nodded briefly to her and then turned to continue his work.

A flipping sound was heard in the house as if someone was reading a book, the old man was looking at his photo album. Looking and reminiscing about the fun times he had with his family. His pictures showed how his son grew up to be a respected businessman. The old man smiled as he thought back. After that he decided to go out to do his daily walk. The old man put on his hat and walked out of his house. As he walked, he thought, ‘It’s my birthday, maybe I should go and get myself some birthday dinner.’

He went to his favorite restaurant and sat down at a table near the window and watched the sun set as he waited for his food to arrive. When his food arrived, the old man looked down at it and wished at that moment that his son was sitting across him with a smile on his face but he wasn’t. The old man picked up his fork and when he was about to start, he suddenly dropped his fork and grabbed his chest. His face scrunched up as he fell to his side onto the floor. His vision darkened as he saw people rushing towards him. A few seconds later, he blacked out.

A phone was ringing in an apartment. A man came running and took the call. “Hi Pa, I was just meaning to call y-.” A tear was seen falling down his cheek. He quickly grabbed his keys and jacket. Put on some shoes and ran out of his apartment. He took a cab all the way to the hospital. When he arrived, he jumped out of the cab. Running towards the front desk, face full of worry and sadness. He was told where his father’s ward was and he ran to it panting heavily. So many thought were going through his head as he ran down the hallway.

He entered the ward, tears streaming down his face and uttering a cry, “Pa, I’m here!” He stopped and muffled another cry. He saw his father lying on a bed, half-conscious. His father’s face was as white as a sheet. He collapsed by his father’s bedside and grabbed his father’s hand with both of his hands. Saying softly and repeatedly, “No, no, no, no, no. Please, please, please, don’t die.” He couldn’t stop his emotions; he couldn’t stop crying. He looked up and he saw his father looking at him. The old man motioned to his son to take the big book behind him on the table.

When his son brought it to him and opened it up. The book was titled, “Family Forever.” The book contained many pictures of their family; father, mother and son. The old man spoke weakly, “Son, I will be joining your mother very soon.” The young man bowed his head and slowly looked up at his father, his eyes were puffy from crying. His father reached out his hand and put his hand on his son’s cheek and mouthed four words, ‘Son, I Love You,’ before taking a breath and closed his eyes forever. The son grabbed his father’s hand tightly and whispered, “No…” A long flat piercing sound penetrated his ears and he knew that his father was gone. He just broke down into tears and cried as the doctors and the nurses ran into the room.

 

Your Loved Ones Will Not Always Be There, Spend As Much Time As You Can With Them.