Page 11 of Goodbye To Tomorrow

"Apparently, you seem to have seen quite a number of pictures in your life time. The only picture I see is that of my wedding with Gracen; framed beautifully by the very best of artists and hung strategically on the wall in my living room where everyone can get a view. But you won’t be in the pictures, if you don't quit this damn attitude of yours!"

I was just as angry as my father was and we argued back and forth. I was glad that Gracen wasn’t here to see me like this. My mother rushed to my side— her eyes watery with tears. I took her shaky hands in mine. “I am sorry Mother, but the truth had to be said." My mother and father both watched me in surprise, unable to utter any word.

I raked a hand through my thick crop of wavy hair, rumpling it like the now rumpled clothes I had on. I stood there trembling as anger continued to course through me. An unfamiliar pounding had begun in my head, but I pushed the feeling aside.

The stern look on my father’s face had begun to disappear. I wanted to believe that my angry and anguished words had gotten through to him; that I had touched some spot in him that weakened him deeply.

"I am sorry Son. I didn’t know that you resented the methods I employed in turning you into a sensible young man."

A palpable silence filled the atmosphere in the sitting room; no one said anything for a while.

Warm salty tears slowly rolled down my mother’s cheeks; her soft whimpers brought an abrupt end to the silence in the room.

Rose walked around me and patted my mother on the back as she tried to comfort her—she was shedding tears of her own. Rose was almost family—she knew where all the skeletons were buried.

The tension in the room started to abate as I let out a heavy sigh.

Father began his descent down the stairs slowly. He was visibly shaken by the events that had unfolded in the last few minutes.

My mother's feeble whimper had turned to uncontrollable sobbing as Rose tried to comfort her. Father got close to his wife and pulled her out of Rose’s embrace and into his arms, holding her tightly; while I stood wishing things had turned out different.

He hugged her tightly and whispered softly into her ears.

"I am sorry... I am sorry but Jiraiya shouldn’t marry that glorified exhibitionist!"

Words that were meant to comfort made my mother weep more. He contained her in his arms, all the while glowering at me. I slowly shook my head, feeling dejected.

I crossed my arms over my chest as I looked on at my parents; Father continued to hold my weeping mother. I sighed and felt the world heavy on my shoulders. Cease fire, I told myself. Enough fighting for one day. Inwardly I increased my resolve to marry Gracen...with or without my father’s well wishes.

"I'm sorry Martha...for everything," my father finally let out.

"I know, Frank, I know... it’s okay," she muttered softly in response.

I walked out of my parents’ home, leaving my hard-nosed father to console his long-suffering wife. I walked into the night with the love of my beautiful Gracen strong in my heart.

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