The Wonderfully Long Book Of Short Stories

Terrible Things

"Dad, can I ask you a question?" My 17 year old son asked me, walking into the kitchen with a photo in his hands as he took a seat at our little kitchen table.

"Sure you can matey, what do you want to know?" I replied, wiping my hands on a cloth as I sat down in front of him.

I watched him carefully as he placed the picture on the table. My breath got hitched in my throat as I saw a younger and happier looking me stood beside a beautiful young woman.

"Who is this woman beside you dad?" He questioned me in his soft voice, much like his mother's once was during serious conversations.

I took a deep breath and swallowed hard, staring into the beautiful hazel eyes of my first and only love. I felt like there was a large lump in my throat, cutting off my breathing and my ability to speak.

"Dad?"

"Yeah sorry mate... she's umm, that's your mum right there..." I whispered, picking up the picture and flipping it over to look at the writing on the back.

"She's beautiful..." He breathed, leaning the photo up a little to take a proper look.

"Yeah, she was..." I murmured as I placed the picture back down on the table.

"What do you mean by 'was'?"

"She... she passed..." I managed as I choked back a sob.

"Will you tell me about how you guys met please? Maybe tell me about her?" He asked me quietly, messing up his black locks that looked so much like his mothers.

I glanced up at him and watched as he fixed his fringe and looked at me through sad eyes, chewing his bottom lip and twiddling his thumbs. I pushed my chair back and went to the sink, picking up my mug and filling it with water before chugging it down. I wiped my mouth and lent against the counter, taking a deep breath and squeezing my eyes shut.

"By the time I was your age, I'd give anything to fall in love truly you know? I wanted to find that one girl, the one that every time she smiled I'd fall in love more and more each day. That's when I met your mother, the girl of my dreams. She was the most beautiful woman that I'd ever seen. Her black hair, much like yours, flowing in the wind and her smile lighting up the dark winter day as the snow fell down around her." I explained as I turned around and looked at him, smiling softly.

"I'd see her every day at the library, in her little corner reading up on her English literature. One morning as I was scanning the shelves for a book on philosophy, she came up to me and tapped my shoulder. I turned to look at her as she said to me 'Boy can I tell you a wonderful thing?' I remember I nodded my head, enchanted by her angelic voice. 'I can't help but notice you're staring at me.' Was the next thing she told me as butterflies swarmed my stomach. I watched as her plump pink lips spoke the next line, 'I know I shouldn't say this but I really believe, I can tell by your eyes that you're in love with me.' Now that was all true, I truly was even though I'd never spoken to her." I told him, moving to sit in my chair as my son watched with wide eyes.

"Now son, I'm only telling you this because life can do terrible things."

"What do you mean dad?" He asked as he lent forward.

"Hush and listen son. Now, most of the time we'd have too much to drink and at night, we'd laugh at the stars and we'd share everything. About our past, our wants, our future and everything in between. We were too young to notice and too dumb to care. People used to say our love was a story that couldn't compare. I remember the day I proposed to her a few years after we'd met. I said to her, 'Girl can I tell you a wonderful thing?' she looked up from her meal and put down her fork as she nodded for me to continue, a small, soft smile on her gorgeous lips. 'I made you a present with paper and string, open with care now; I'm asking you, please.' Her smile widened, making me grin as I finished, 'You know that I love you, will you marry me?' that's when her smile faulted and shrunk..." I trailed off, wiping my eyes and coughing.

"Now son, I'm only telling you this because life can do terrible things. You'll learn, one day, I'll hope and I'll pray that god shows you differently" I told him, looking him hard in the eye as he looked at me with concern.

"Once her smile faulted she said to me 'Boy can I tell you a terrible thing?' my heart stopped in my chest as I watched her closely, her eyes sad as she continued on 'It seems that I'm sick and I've only got weeks, please don't be sad no, I really believe, you were the greatest thing that ever happened to me.' My stomach dropped as I looked at her, feeling like I was about to be sick. It felt like the world had gone into a movies slow motion scene as I fell slowly to the ground on my knees." I choked back a sob as I looked at her smiling in the photo.

I heard my son get up and wrap his arms around my shoulder, holding me close as he whispered in my ear, "You don't have to finish dad..."

"No, I can do this. By this time you were born and three weeks after your birth, your mother had died. I held you in my arm as I watched her say her last words and her hand went limp in mine. Now take a seat, I have some more advice."

I brushed my hand through his hair, making him scowl as I chuckled a watered down chuckle and got comfortable again, wiping my eyes as he fixed his hair.

"So don't fall in love, there's just too much to lose. If you're given the choice, then I beg you to choose. To walk away, walk away, don't let her get you. I can't bear to see the same happen to you, now, son, I'm only telling you this because life, can do terrible things."

~~

This is based off of the song, 'Terrible Things' by Mayday Parade. Absolutely brilliant! I'll had a link to the song on the side once I get home, at school writing this all. Hope you enjoyed it! Have a good day and don't forget to vote and comment!

Lots of love,

Ash xx