Flashbacks

Im here, sitting on my dad's lap, listening to the beautiful words of a wonderful story, so wonderful that my dad reads it to me every single night before going to sleep. My dad's story, a joyful story, a story where everyone is dancing, laughing, cheering and singing. My mind only thinks of how wonderful it would be to live in the story. My mind only thinks of the luxury the people must have, to have had parties everyday. I even forget that tomorrow... Im turning 8.

But the next thing I know, Im getting ready for my party. Once Im done changing, I open my room's wooden door to see a bunch of people smiling at me. Some kneeling, some standing, looking like they are all posing for a picture. Though, the brightest smile of them all, is my father's. At the side of him, both my brothers stand, Pike and Cole. Pike to be 7 and Cole to be 4 this year. Beside my brothers is my best friend, Beth who attended my mom's funeral last year. Others are just some cousins and neighbors but close friends of my dad.

I dont know how, but my dad made my party the exact same party in his story, well how I imagined it, that is. Blue and yellow lights, dancing people, singing people, and eating people by the huge buffet table set out in the middle of the room with a blue table cloth and a seven layer cake in the middle covered in bright yellow icing with some blue flowers for design. It was all beautiful.

Tonight, my family and I went to bed early enough to wake up tomorrow for school.

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Im here, Im 20 years of age. My brother Pike is looking at me. Im in bed... I just woke up.

"Ley, come on, time to go." Pike says as he stands up.

"Go where?" I ask, clueless.

Pike gives me a look as if Im crazy. Then, his eyes soften making him look confused.

"Dad's funeral"

I forgot, my father... he's dead. His images, my memories of him are all stuck in my head. Pike walks out of the room and closes the door. I stand up and change for the funeral. A black dress, a dress that was a gift from my dad for my 19th birthday. I get in the car with my brothers. The whole ride had the atmosphere of quiet intensity.

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I stand before my dad's coffin, with only one content... him. His skin, white, grey strands of hair can already be seen. He tried to stop a robber with a bag filled with money. It certainly slowed the robber down, which let him to his arrest but before the police handcuffed him, it was too late, a gunshot fired. Just looking back at it, made a tear slide down my cheek. I watch it as it falls and hits the floor, with what I believe is great impact.

You can see the hole on his clothing that rests on top of his chest, where his heart used to beat and work. I begged that my father's clothes stay the same, that the farthest they can go with his clothes is washing them. To keep him the way he was before he died, to remind the people who came here today that my father was a brave man, a man who was fearless.

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Pike, Cole and I pack, together with the reward money from the government, that night. The next day we will be transferring to Toronto where family members will keep an eye on us.

Though, I fear the night, the sleep, the memories and the flashbacks.

THE END!