When I was a kid, my father came to me and gave me a book. I was disappointed. I was expecting a toy to play or a princess dress. I tried to look excited. I smiled and thanked him.
I kept the book under my bed but I never read it, until now at least. Months and years passed and I had forgot about it.
I grew up. I finished school. I went to college. I found my dream job. I got married. I had my own children. I finally had everything. I was living my life to the fullest until one day, my mother called.
I could hear her screaming and crying and I panicked.
I asked "Mom, what happened?"
She said "Your father, your father was taken to the hospital and he-he passed away sweetheart. He went his last trip. Now he is free."
I could understand how broken she was. That was the moment when I remembered everything.
How I used to make fun of him because he was always reading. How I used to keep a distance between us. How I never let him come close to me.
He was always there to listen and advise and I locked him away and throw the key.
I went out. I looked up into the sky with tears running out of my eyes and yelled " I am sorry dad! I am so sorry!"
The next day I went to the airport. I was going home after all these years. I wasn't feeling well. I feeling guilty.
I saw my mother sitting on the window and waiting.
I asked her what was she doing out here. I didn't tell her I would come.
"I was waiting for you like he did. I never understood why but now I do."
I hugged her and we started crying.
After awhile, I went to my old room.
So many memories.
So many things.
So many feelings.
So many words that were never told.
I looked under my bed without thinking.
I saw that book again. It was half destroyed.
I smiled and couldn't do otherwise but read.
When I read the whole book, I saw a folder on the right side. I opened it and I read the letter out loud.
"Dear daughter,
If you are reading this, probably I won't be next to you. However I wanted to tell you that I would always be here for you. You can still talk to me and I will listen. Don't forget the few happy memories we have.
We were always opposite from each other.
I wrote this letter many years ago hopping that one day you will read it through.
I still remember your look when I gave you this book. Confused and dissatisfied. I am sorry love. I just wanted you to feel like me. I wanted to saw you a different world far away from reality. A place to go when you feel drowned. I didn't give you a book, I gave you a friend. A ticket. Don't feel sad sweetie. It's never late to take another train if you missed the first one."
That was the day I started reading. That was the day when I was ready to meet a new world. A place that was made for me.
When you read, you travel, you explore.
You feel alive. You live different lives.
A person who doesn't read lives only once.
A person who reads lives a thousand times.
But a person who writes, lives forever.
