r/nosleep
u/NuttyPeasant
My dead dad played a sick and painful joke
“Mom, it’s been 12 years now. I want you to be happy. I want us to be a family again…”
My father passed away 12 years ago due to leukemia. He signed a DNR form at the hospital in his final days as he wanted to pass away without the struggle of being brought back. My mother was distraught by this decision, deciding that she would begin to limit her visits to the hospital, but when he passed away unexpectedly, she was devastated by her decision, allowing it to consume her over the last 12 years.
“Lee, I am happy. You make me happy, I want you to find someone and love them, and cherish them, instead of what I did.
“Mom, that’s not what I meant. I want you to find your own happiness.”
“It’s just… I was the one who let him pass away without me there, you know?”
“Well… It’s been a long time is all I’m saying. I know you’ve been lonely.
“Lee, I---”
She dropped the umbrella and stared behind me, in awe, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Pe…ter…”
Peter is my dad, but… what? I turn around and I don’t see anything, but before I know my, my mom runs past me.
“PETER! Oh my god, I missed you so much. I’m coming!”
She continues to run and begins to slow down, right as she reached this large, old willow tree. The willow tree was where my parents had their first picnic, prior to this area being turned into a cemetery. Talk about an unfortunate place to meet.
“Peter… I’m so sorry that I wasn’t there for you in the hospital. It just hurt me, it hurt me a lot, and I couldn’t continue seeing you like that.”
I just watched her, conversing with a tree. I’m pretty sure she’s hallucinating, but she seems so happy that I couldn’t stop her. I just watched her.
“Yeah, I know, and I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry that I wasn’t there for you, and I’m sorry that I was a bad wife.”
…
“Yeah, I was a bad wife and I’m sorry for that. I don’t know how long you’ve been here but I’m so happy to see you!”
…
“Lee, come here. Your father wants to say something to you!”
I walked over there with heavy steps and just stared at my mom as if she was crazy. She pointed me to look at the tree.
“Lee, your father is right here. He looks great, doesn’t he?”
“Mom, I don---”
“Don’t interrupt your father like that, I raised you better!”
“Sorry? Mom, I don’t see anything.”
“What do you mean, he’s standing right in front of you!”
Just then, I felt my hair being pushed down, as if someone were petting my head? Someone had their hand on my head, but I couldn’t see anything, I just felt it. Maybe it was just the wind, or something dropped on my hair.
“Mom, I don’t see him.”
“Lee, you have to want it to see it!”
“Mom…”
“WANT IT!”
My mom said angrily while slapping me across the face. I have never seen my mom mad. She has always wanted me to be happy but here she is, slapping me. Maybe she is really seeing dad. Maybe she’s not telling a lie.
I stare at the ground while processing what had just happened. I felt my mother’s hand on my face, not in a caressing manner, but rather a violent one.
I looked up and she was standing atop me, with tears flowing down her face.
“Because of you, I don’t see your dad anymore. BECAUSE OF YOU!”
“Mom, I didn’t do anything, I di—”
She swung her bag at me, right across the face.
“Mom, I swear! I didn’t do anything! Please stop!”
It was as if she didn’t want to listen, it was as if I was now the enemy.
“Mom, please!!!”
She swung the bag around her, and threw it straight at my face. I fell back, dazed at the amount of pain my mom just caused me.
“Mom!"
I looked up at my mom, and she stared down, eyes crinkled as if she were trying to smile but couldn’t. Her eyes were bloodshot, veins coming out of her neck. She bent down, and picked up her bag, continuing to stare at me.
“Mom… What are you doing?"
She collapsed, falling backwards, and I just stared at her. I didn’t want to touch her. My nose was bleeding, and I could feel my face bruising. That was not my mom, but her mouth moved,
"Kid, you're as weak as ever."
I stared up at the willow tree, and imagined what my mom saw. Whatever she saw… I don’t want her to see again.
I walked over to my mom, and poked her. Her body was unconscious, skin was still warm, and heart was still beating. Thank god. I grabbed her bag, and the umbrella, and went back over to my mom. I picked her up, and threw her over my shoulder, carrying her back to the car as we pass dad’s tombstone.
“Dad, that was a sick and painful joke.”
After a brief moment, I heard something.
“I wanted to have a little fun.”
I heard my dad's voice in my mom's body.
“You really shouldn't have shown yourself to her and then just disappear. You knew that she'd beat me up. When are you going to tell her?"
The wind gusted as leaves blew past us. I carried my mom over to the car, and laid her down in the backseat.
I sat down in the driver’s seat and looked at the mirror. I touched my face, and cringed with pain.
“I did on a number on you, didn’t I?"
I turned around, and my mom’s body was still unconscious. That was definitely my dad.
My dad was having fun.
"Just keep it out little secret, alright bud?"
▶Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/b71lkw/my_dead_dad_played_a_sick_and_painful_joke/
▶Author: https://www.reddit.com/user/NuttyPeasant
