To Dad
There had been a thousand letters he’d send time and time again. He had never once gotten a reply back and he knew why. He knew there was nothing left. Still, he walked to the old lot every day to leave a letter. It was silly to think that the people you hold close would stick around forever…but the people here….
The people here were family.
Charles, Jeremy, Fritz, Al, even Richard had become a friend to him. Even so, he stared on at ths place as if it was still there. He knew it was gone, but every time he came here, the memories flooded in.
He would come in wearing his little security guard hat and had that stupid grin on his face when he would come to see Charles during the day…or to watch Fritz play the arcade games and win him things in the prize corner…Jeremy taking time to come and visit him or babysit him when his parents were working and his God father couldn’t watch him.
Richard didn’t attempt to approach him until after his dad’s surgery. The two would talk from time to time, leaving him to listen to the old stories of his father. It made him happy. Then there was his friend, Gabriel. Gabriel was like a guiding Saint to the boy since he was small. He looked up to Gabriel as a role model. Both for his stand on religion and the way he viewed everything. It was so clear for him…
Kneeling down, Colin fidgetied with his father’s old zippo in his hand as he set down the letter with a can of beer beside it. All it said on the front was ‘Dad’.
'Dear Dad, It’s been another long day since I wrote you…how are you and mom? Good I hope…I know you probably won’t read these, but my therapist thought it would be a good way to cope with my loss. Papa Kore and Papa Dane have been taking really good care of me. We went on Vacation last weekend, but I already told you about that…’
Colin took in a shaking breath as he stood again, stuffing his hands into his pockets. To look at the lack of love here…it hurt. He and Kore seemed to come by here often to clean the old lot. No one ever bought it because of the stories and horror tales about it…
'I learned Papa Dane isn’t s big of a handy man as you and momma were…he seems to do things in a fasion that it gets done, but I can see the things that need fixing before he can sometimes…maybe I got that from you?’
The memories of his family were faded. It had been so long, but the fire remained in the forefront of his mind for a very long time. He was hurting, scared…and he remembered feeling nothing when he’d heard about his mother…then, his dad… Kore and Dane had found him on the roof that night, not planning, but just…sitting there, staring out into the night.
He stopped eating, sleeping…his grades were slipping and he had no will to do the things he loved anymore. He wanted to quit, give up everything, but when he was asked if his parents would have given up, Dane reminded him that he can’t make them sad just because their dead…they were still watching over him.
'Papa Dane told me once that I had to keep pushing because you guys are still watching over me…and I don’t want you to see me fall again. Even though I know you’re there to pick me up…I want to step into those gates and hear you say “I’m proud of you, son.” When I get there.
Anyway, sorry this one is so short. I told momma you said hi, but I’m sure you two talk a lot…anyway, I won’t keep you. I’m sure you’re up to something.
Stay safe, Dad Colin Schmidt.
P.S. I was thinking about working on cars…what do you think?’
After a few shed tears and collecting his thoughts, Colin turned away from the old lot, trying to stop the tears that threatened to fall. A cool summer breeze brushed past him, the scent of cigarettes drifting past him along with what felt like a pat on the shoulder…
They would always be with him…and he would never forget them.
————— Author’s Note: I originally submitted this to @ask-the-nightshift / @inverted-mind-inc as Colin. I wanted to post it here as well
