Finding Hope

Goodnight, Daddy

At the hospital, the little girl waited with her mother, the little blue cap crunched between her fists. Her mom wrapped her arms around her and scooped her up on her lap. She stroked the little girls hair as they waited until the nurse came in. "Any breath could be his last. He can hear you but he can't respond... I'm so sorry." Kristina could tell by her mothers eyes that she wanted to break down and cry but she wouldn't, she wanted to stay strong for her little girl. The little girl held tight on to her mother and the nurse led them down to the room in which her father lay, breathing heavy, weighted breaths. She watched as her mother said her last goodbyes, watching her break down into tears because she couldn't handle it anymore. Her mother knelt down by the side of the bed with her hands covering her mascara-tear covered face. The little girl crawled up onto the bed and laid down next to her daddy. She turned to him and said "Daddy, could you please tell Jesus I say hi?" She watched as her father struggled with a smile, and then watched as he gasped in his last breath. She took the little blue hat and placed it over her fathers eyes. "Goodnight, Daddy."

Beep.

~ ~ ~

It had been a little over a week since her father's passing, little Kristina was getting ready to go outside. Pulling a sweater out of the closet, she had felt something else come flopping out on top of her.

The little blue cap. The little girl became filled with anger, grabbing the hat and running outside. She took the hat and threw it into the bushes. She ran back inside and crawled behind the couch, overcome with emotion. She began to cry until her mother heard and came rushing over to scoop her up in her arms. "Mommy, when is Daddy coming back?!" It was at that time that the little girls mother realized that Kristina didn't actually know that death was a permanent destination. She carried her into the kitchen and made her a bowl of ice cream. Her mother sat her down and began to explain.