An Atom Of Life

This Is Goodbye

I got up and ran towards the door; I couldn’t stay in that house anymore. Even though she was my mother, I was suffocated in her presence. How could she? I got out and started walking, tears still flowing from my eyes. As I was walking, I ran into Aunt Anne.

“Hey Josie, why are you crying?” – She asked

I looked at her, tears still flowing from my eyes. And I said,

“I just came to know how great Uncle Aaron was.”

“Ashlynn told you?” – She said

I nodded. She hugged me and said,

“You wanna see where Joey is buried?”

“Yes.” – I replied

And she took my hand and we started walking.

“By the way what are you doing here?” – I asked

“I came here on a meeting.” – She replied

Suddenly she stopped and I looked up, we were in front of the cemetery.

Just then her phone rang; she picked it up and talked to the person on the line.

“Sorry Josie, I have to go. Duty calls. But you will be able to find her grave. It’s on the far left side, there.” – She said pointing towards the direction

And then she left. And I was left there alone, standing there in front of the cemetery.

I entered and passed the graves, walking towards the direction Aunt Anne had pointed.

I saw a gravestone marked Joey Hill (1971 – 2000), but someone was standing there. I couldn’t make out who he was, so I walked forwards and stood beside him.

His face was covered by a hood. He was just looking at the grave, finally he said,

“You came at last, Josie.”

And I suddenly knew who he was, that voice I could recognize anywhere.

“Uncle Aaron.” – I said

He pulled down his hood and said,

“Hey Josie, meet Joey.” He gestured his hand towards the grave.

“Why did you leave? Didn’t I matter to you at all?” – I asked, completely ignoring what he just said

“You did matter Josie, and because you mattered I couldn’t let you live a lie.” – He replied

“I told you everything, and hoped we would never see each other again. But I was wrong; we meet when I am dying.” – He added

“Dying?” – I asked confused

“Yes, I have a day or two to live. I have cancer that has penetrated my lymph nodes. I asked the doctors to let me leave and die here, in front of the girl I loved. But I didn’t even tell her once that how much I loved her.” – He replied

“ARE YOU MAD? Coming here, when you could be in the hospital and be fighting.” – I said

“You are still calling me mad? Even after you just read what I did?” – He replied

“Do you really want to die that much?” – I asked, tears forming in my eyes

“I think I have done my part here, I now need to rest.” – He said

“Why did you never ever told Joey that you loved her?” – I asked

He remained quiet for a while and then said in a low voice,

“Because I still believed that I was in love with Ashlynn.”

I looked at him and said,

“Were you right?”

“Yes…” – He replied, and finally the tears I had been holding back for a while overflowed and they streamed down my face

Neither of us spoke, there was only the sound of wind swishing by our ears.

He sat down with his back supported by the gravestone, and said,

“I raised you Josie, and I told you everything about me. Listen to my last advice”

“Don’t ever try to follow my example; you will be left with nothing. If you really want to live a happy life then never try to follow my example. If you love someone, tell them before it’s too late. Live with no regrets. And forgive you mother, Josie. She was just trying to protect you. She loves you.”

“Have you forgiven her?” – I asked, wiping my tears.

He remained quiet at this question.

“My time is near, Josie. I raised you to be caring and loving, be good to yourself Josie and do well to others. Remember that nothing in this life is easy. Don’t expect things to be given to you; you have to go out and get it!” – He added

Saying this he looked in front of him at another gravestone and said,

“I raised your daughter to be a lady, Ulrick. I believe it’s what you wanted.”

And then his lips curved into a peaceful smile, he closed his eyes. It looked like he was sleeping, an eternal sleep. Uncle Aaron left this world, died at the place he chose. In front of the grave of the girl he loved.

The emotions resurfaced and again tears streamed down my face. Suddenly out of nowhere two guys emerged with a stretcher and heaved Uncle Aaron’s lifeless body on it and left. Those were the guys from the hospital he was talking about. I also turned to leave.

As I walked past Joey’s grave, I looked at the name on the gravestone Uncle Aaron had looked at and now shock covered my face.

The gravestone read,

Ulrick Trance

(1970 – 2004)

The End???