The Unforgettable

Pt. 13

~CHAPTER 13~

Today is November 21, 2013.

2 years ago, in this exact hour, I was over at Austin's house.

I've gotten over 17 missed calls from my mother but I didn't bother picking it up. I figured she was just calling to check up on me. I hated being treated like a baby.

When I got home, I saw my mom crying on the kitchen table, all alone. I asked her what was wrong but she couldn't stop crying. I look around the house to try and figure it out myself.

"Where's dad?"

"He- he" she begins to cry again "they rushed him to the hospital"

"What! What happened to him?" I ask

"Heart attack," she puts her hand on my shoulder "sweetie, he tried fighting it. And he didn't make it," she shakes her head and wipes the tears off her face

I was so speechless, I didn't know what to say. My eyes started bursting tears out and I couldn't make it stop.

"We were in the hospital and I thought everything was fine. He told me he wanted to talk to you. Alone. So I left the room to give him space. He left a voice mail and when he had finished, he gave me a kiss. As if he knew he was about to die. The monitor started beeping and it all happened so fast." My mom explained

"I can't believe he's- gone and I didn't even pick up the phone! I hate myself right now. How could I do that to him!" I yelled

"Jennifer, it's okay. Alright? I didn't know, you didn't know. And I'm sure he loves you no matter what," she pushes my phone towards me "you could still listen to what he had to say."

"I'm not ready. I can't do this mom! What if he hates me! I can't listen to this! Not right now" I cover my face "no,"

"Then when that day comes, you'll be ready." she gives me a hug. She leaves the kitchen and goes into her room.

I could still hear her crying but this time she's calm. I stare at my phone for hours. I wasn't ready to hear my cheerful, happy, and kind dad, who I ignored, and is gone now. All I have left of him is this voice message, which is also his last words.

I grab my phone and decided not to listen to it. It took my mother and I, a year and a half to fully recover. Whenever we remember him, it didn't hurt us as much as it did before. We eventually learned how to move on and only remember the happy moments we've had with him.

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Today is November 21, 2013. I headed over to my dad's grave. I sat down and I began scrolling down my voice mail and found the unopened message from my dad.

"Today I'm ready" I say to myself

I hit the open button and the voice message started playing.

"Hey Jennifer, it's me, your dad. I just want to tell you how much your mother and I love you. You've grown up so fast, and I can't even keep track of time. Each and everyday, you make your mother and I so proud of you. If only you were here right now, I would hug you until the day I die. But unfortunately, today might be that day. I'm sorry," he begins crying "I'm really, really sorry that I won't be able to watch you grow up even more. And that I won't be able to walk you down the isle on your wedding day. I've been dreaming of it since the day you were born. I know that you will be taken such good care of by a great man. Now, don't you let Austin go. He's a fine man and I trust him with your life. I know that you two deserve each other, and you make each other happy. Just remember that I will look after you, even though I'm gone. When life brings you down, show life that you can stand up. You're a very strong woman and I never doubted you. Take care of your mother while I'm gone. I love you, Jen."

"That is the end of this voice message. To reply, press 1-"

If only I could, I would.