Hidden Truths

The Accident

We rushed home as soon as soon as we could. So many thoughts were running though my head, what’s going on? Is he going to be okay? Is he still alive? I was basically at a full sprint now, running full speed with Kelsie right on my heels.

“Slow down Alex, I’m sure he’s fine.” I was not in the mood for comforting.

“How could you say that? My dad has been away for six months and my aunt gets a call saying that he was in an accident, and you want to tell me that he’s fine, that everything’s going to be okay? How do you know that?” We were in front of the apartment now, and she walked over and embraced me,

“Listen to me, I know you, and I know how worried you are right now but you just have to trust me.” She was whispering in my ear. I did not know why, but she always knew what to say to make me feel better. No matter what was going on, she was always been there for me. I then found myself looking into her eyes. I never really noticed how beautiful they were. Deep blue like the ocean, mixed with a black that held many secretes that were only shared with me. I slowly pushed her hair out of her face and leaned in to kiss her. I had no idea what I was doing. Right before our lips touched there was a loud slam from behind us, and I turned to see three tall men walking out of a dark car. They were all dressed in black suits with black sunglasses, and had an American flag pined to their chest. The man walking in the front stopped where we were standing and looked at me.

“Are you Mason Harris?” He asked in a deep golden voice that sounded like it belonged to an angel.

“Yeah that’s me, I go by Alex”

“Well Mason I worked with your father,” He obviously was not listing to anything I was saying, “I’m here with news that I think you’ll want to hear. If you could just follow me inside, so we can sit and talk.” We walked inside and I led him to the first floor apartment. I was scared and out of instinct I reached out for Kelsie’s hand, and she gladly took it, knowing that I needed some comfort. I lived with my aunt Rachel. She took care of me when my dad was gone. It was just me and her. Her husband had died just three years after they were married. My dad and I were all she had left. My mother had left me and my dad when I was just seven, and I have never seen her since. We had made it to the door, and I walked in.

“Aunt Rachel, there’s people here that need to talk to us.” There was no answer, “Rachel? Are you here?” There was a small whimper coming from the kitchen. As we walked in there I found my aunt Rachel on the floor crying. “Rachel, what’s going on?”

“It’s your father Alex,” She was struggling to get the words out; “He’s been in a horrible accident. Sit down and listen to what the men have to say. They will explain it all.”

We walked into the kitchen and sat down around the table. Kelsie was sitting on my left and Aunt Rachel on my right. All three men were standing around us. After a couple minutes of silence one of them finally spoke. “Let’s just start off with the basics: your dad was a great man. He fought many wars and solved many crimes, but a great deed in one country can be a criminal act in another. Most of our allies agreed with the missions that we sent him on, but not all. I am not here to give you the details; I’m just here to tell you that your father has been in an accident, and we are truly sorry for your loss. Today your family and America lost a great man. A man that did things that one day you will recognize.”

“Is my father dead?” I asked, my voice quivering.

"I’m afraid so.” There was no emotion in his voice. I could not see through his sunglasses, but I knew that there would be compassion in his eyes.

“How?” I was getting frustrated, and I began to raise my voice. “Tell me how my father died!”

“I’m terribly sorry, but like I said I didn’t come here to give you the details of the accident. The story will be out there all you have to do is listen.” They turned to leave, but as they got to the door, the second man turned around and looked at me.

“We went to the sight, and found this in your father’s pocket.” He handed me a folded up piece of paper with something inside of it. I took it from his hand and walked back over to where Kelsie and my aunt were standing. I opened it, and immediately feel to my knees and started to weep, because for the first time I realized that my dad was not coming back from his trip, he was out of my life forever, and what I held in my hands were probably the last words he ever wrote or said.