Ollie's Bear

Ollie's 16th

It is now thirteen years later; It is Ollie's 16th birthday. During the years after he was told about his father, he asked his mother questions about the man who was his father, the father he had never met due to his death, asked him anything and everything and she answered his questions lovingly every time. He never forgot a thing she ever told him about Owen, he wanted to hold onto every piece of him he could, he wished to keep him in his heart always. Sometime he wished He could even meet him, even though he knows it won't happen. 

Ollie still keeps his bear in plain sight in his bedroom ,right on his dresser front and center. He was not at all ashamed of still having a teddy bear, because it was one that will always be special to him. When he is ever asked by a friend, why he still has it he just states "It has special meaning." And just leaves it at that. He knows that his friends would wonder how it could be special if he had never met his dad, so he never went into detail.

On the day he turned sixteen Olivia gave Ollie a letter addressed to him in handwriting he didn't know, it was from Owen, his father, she had told him after placing it gently in his hands that morning. 

Ollie laid it on his dresser that morning of his birthday and waited to read the letter later that night, he did not want anyone to witness his reading it because he was afraid of breaking down in tears in front of them, he wanted to be strong for everyone. After his party was over and all friends and extra family had left the small house he and his mother shared, he ran up the stairs to his bedroom and picked up the letter and Owen his teddy bear and sat down on the edge of his bed. He gently opened the old envelope so as it would not rip, gingerly pulled out the old piece of paper and started to read.

Dear Ollie,
My son, I remember the day your mother told me she was going to have you, we were young and scared of having a child of our own that we were going to have to take care of, but we were also so very happy and excited that we would have someone that would belong to both of us. That we could love endlessly and teach what we had learned throughout our years. But our happy ending was very short lived because I got sick, it hit me really hard knowing I couldn't be there for you and your mother, Knowing I could not hold either of you ever again. I knew I wasn't going to live for very long a few months at most, so I wanted to have something to give you to hold onto, a piece of me even though you didn't know who I was. I have loved you from the beginning and always will even when I'm in heaven. I wanted you to know how much I wish I was with you now. I love you now and always.
Love, your father Owen

When Ollie finishes reading the letter he wipes the salty tears from his face, and gently folds the letter back up and places it in its envelope. Ollie places the letter on the dresser where he keeps Owen the bear and sets Owen right on top to keep it safe. After making sure he is all composed  from his break down he walks out of his bedroom and makes his way down the stairs to find his mother.
When Ollie reaches his mother, who was standing in the living room, staring out the dingy window, he wraps his strong , wiry arms around her and hugs her tight. Olivia was not surprised by this act and wrapped her arms around him too, she squeezed him tight. Her face was pressed into his clean shirt due to his tall stature and her petite one. They stood there holding each other crying softly. 

Olivia now is reminded of the night Owen shared his plans for the bear with her. The way they held each other and cried. But this embrace was different as well as the tears, Ollie is comforting his mother, showing his love for her and for the father he had never known.