The Big Dream

Chapter 2: Present Day

This was the first time I traveled here alone. All the other times I came to this place with my mom or a family friend who would come for support. I decided this time I would come by myself and express my grief with him, one on one.

I walked up to his tombstone and brushed off the fall leaves and dust piled on his grave site.  It was the anniversary of his death, which was five years ago from this day: my birthday. He was battling from lung cancer; one minute he was full of life, the next you remember your mother crying in the emergency room.

The night he died everything seemed perfectly fine. He had went upstairs to grab my birthday present. Then, my mom went upstairs to grab the camera and told me to watch my three younger siblings. Ten minutes later, which seemed like a long time, made me start to think I should go check on them and then I heard mom scream. I dropped Priscilla into her toy area and told Max to watch Sarah while I went upstairs to check what caused the sudden outburst. Everything else was a blur, other then a few moments of terror that night.

Today, I turned sixteen and can't help but think of my father and his lively spirit. The way he kept pushing me to keeping me from giving up. Well, every since he died it has been hard. Trying to help mom out with everyone, completing school work, and now taking on a job at the ice cream parlor. As I go through each day I always think what would dad do; I hoped coming here would solve my problem.

I sat on the ground; not really caring if I got my raggedy jeans messed up. It is a beautiful day and I feel like he is here. "Hey dad. I know its been a while since I've come here," I said, knowing that he wouldn't care about that, but more concerned about how I'm doing. "I'm doing really good in school, Sarah and Priscilla are really growing up, sassying people, and Max is still being his normal self as usual," I explained. Not finding anything else to say I said,"Dad, I miss you and I don't know what I should do. I'm stressed about college being two years away, starting my first job to help the house, and helping Max get out of his shell which is causing him not to talk about his feelings to anyone. I wish you were still here." I felt a tear run down my face. Quickly, I wiped it away and looked at my watch seeing that I am late for school; I stood up, wiped myself off, and said goodbye to dad and headed for the car.