SHORT STORY COLLECTION BY LEE RAFAEL

Images

I spent my whole life trying to find any images of my dad. I have no proof of him because he left us seven months before my mom gave birth to me. My father died during the war when he tried to protect my mom. This will just be easy for me to find any information of my dad but my mom died because of cancer when I was four. Life was hard for me during that time but my aunt raised me as if I am her real child. I grew up happy with her until she also left when I was Thirty-Two because she's really old. I became independent and I'm now living alone without anyone with me now. But the story of my life did not actually end there yet because I still want to find the images of my father.

I actually had a dream where my mom and dad was dancing but when my father looked at me. He has no face which makes me cried after I woke up. I spent almost all of my money just to find any information of him but nothing happened. Then one day, while I'm walking alone going home from my work. I saw an old man sitting under the tree in the busy road where he is begging for money. I suddenly stopped and I gave him 100 Pesos. He looked surprise and happy and he thanked me. Saying that he will never forget me.

The next day, I saw him again under the tree still begging for money but when he saw me. He smiled and he said that he has something for me. He reached the paper bag behind him then he gave it to me. When I looked at it. I saw that there's an apple inside. He said that it was from my money. He spent the half of it buying something for me because I was too kind. He also said that he remembers his daughter in me. But her daughter died ten years ago because of brain tumor then he looked up on the sky.

Saying that one day, he will reunite with her. Where there will be no pain or any suffering. Then I smiled. I offered him another 100 pesos but he refused then he went back under the tree where a lot of people passing him by. I waved at him then I said goodbye.

The next day, while walking on the same street. I saw a lot of people standing on the middle of the road taking pictures for something that I cannot see. Out of curiosity, I ran to check what is happening then after I get there. I saw the old beggar that I am just talking to yesterday, lifeless, holding a paper bag with another apple inside it. I cried then I hugged him really tight. I whispered that finally, he will reunite with her daughter above.

Three days later after that event. I just had a dream where my mom is dancing with my dad. But finally, I can now see the smile of my father. He was wearing the old man's face. He is smiling to me and it feels real. My heart felt it. I know that he is not my father, the old man. But he gave me the images of my father that I will treasure forever.