The next few months were painful. After we found out that my father had died we prepared for his funeral the next day. We stood in a large graveyard next to the church were they were married...tears fell as several of my fathers squad mates and close friends walked down the isle with his casket. As it was lowered into the ground his father...with great sadness read some words in his sake. I couldn't here what he was saying...for I was trapped in my now crumbling mind. I was reliving the final moment I had with my father before he left.
We walked out to the lake...our favourite fishing and camping spot. "Well....I thought since I'm leaving for a good while tomorrow...why not have the rest of the evening and night all to ourselves" he said as we waded into the water. "This is great dad...just like old times.....dad?" I replied waiting for my dad to saying something. He was currently looking off into the distance. He then said in a hushed voice "Do you see those birds over there? Those birds were here the first time we went fishing remember?" "Yeah I remember that....that was when we found our dog...right?" I said looking at our husky butch. "Yeah...I've always found those birds being a sign of good hope" he said as we casted our lines into the water. We waited for a bite....after a while it started to get very dark. We had caught a lot of fish by then...so we decided to call it a day and head back to shore and start our fire. As our fished cooked my dad told me an old story from when he lived in Germany. Soon the fish was eaten and we were getting ready to go to bed. Just before we climbed into our tents I said to my dad "do you think you'll come home?" I asked. My dad looked at me and said in a serious voice "I'll try my best....but just remember that I will always be with you" This was the last time I saw him alive.
As I snapped back into reality...I realized that we were leaving. So I followed everyone and headed back to my mothers car. Later the next day....I was a complete wreck. I went to see the counsellor several times the next few weeks to try and numb the pain I felt in my heart. Soon late one night as I sat on the shore of the lake...in the same spot me and my father had camped so many times before. I realized what I wanted to do..."I think it's time for me to hold his torch" so from that point forward I prepared for the day I would join the UNSC. And I would avenge him for his death
