A Message From Father To Son
-
Shaira Ibnat, Grade 6
-
Short Story
-
2022
A Message From Father to Son
Father:
I'm an old man, I know that from the bottom of my heart, and I'm proud of that. But I'm proud of other things, too, because my son's so brave. Braver than I will ever be. I wish I could spend more time with my son, Arthur, to be the father that I have always wanted to be. But he is so much more to me than a son. He's my pillar of hope and strength, the only thing that has me pursuing life's staircase. My staircase has tacks and splinters and rocks, but his, his staircase is a crystal staircase...
I hope that this can be a new beginning for Arthur and I, but both him and I will never have a complete heart. There will always be one missing piece. His eyes remind me of his mother, they're just so alike. I wish she could see Arthur growing up. But I guess our dreams cut too short and vanished away into the slinking shadows. Arthur has been a good son; no, a good mate and tries to visit me everyday. I can understand his reluctance, and it's not that he doesn't want to see me, but because he is taking care of another family, a younger family. They deserve it more than I do. I can hear someone approaching now, I just hope it could be Arthur.
Son:
Father is so brave. Braver than me. I am approaching him now, but he doesn't seem to recognise me at all. He's done so much for me and I'm proud to be his son. I think of him as my flower, but now he is shrivelling up like a winter flower, and it's no longer summer. I know that I'm a coward. The only reason that I don't visit Father too often because I am afraid of what will happen next time, that I may never see him again. I just can't bear seeing someone who means so much to me covered in cords and hooked up to machines. He's not the father I know, but he's old now and I'm young, so to be true, I might not understand anything of this world. One day I might be like him. I just wish I could see both Father and Mother together, it would make him so happy again. I want him to be happy and enjoy life. That's all I want now. For him to have a complete heart.