A SOLDIER'S CONFESSION

Families are supposed to be close. Families tell each other everything. But what happens when one death bed confession changes everything. One confession changes your whole life and that of your family.

My family was as close as a family can be. Our love for each other was so strong. I believed nothing and no one can tear us apart. But I was so very wrong.

Grandpa Charles was the best man I ever knew aside from my father. He was strong and fearless. He was also the biggest teddy bear. His love was unconditional.

Grandpa Charles always forgave you for doing or making stupid choices but you had to prove worthy of his forgiveness. He loved you regardless. He was that kind of man.

When grandpa Charles was dying, I saw a change in him. I asked him if he was sad that he was going to leave us.

Grandpa Charles took my hand and told me "I lived a wonderful life with a beautiful family I love with all my heart."

His next words took me by surprise. Grandpa Charles told me "I'm thinking if the big guy in the sky is going to forgive me." I was confused by his words.

I told grandpa Charles "Of course he's going to forgive you. You've done nothing wrong." His next statement told me grandpa Charles was hiding a very big secret. "Nobody's is ever innocent in this world. We always do something we regret."

I never got his words out of my head. I asked Nana about what grandpa Charles said. She shrugged it off. I loved my grandpa regardless of what he did or didn't do.

Grandpa Charles health was getting worse each day. Nana couldn't take care of him anymore. As hard as it was for all of us, we as a family decided to put grandpa Charles in hospice care.

I went to see grandpa Charles as did the rest of the family. We brought him books to read, comfort food, things that would make him happy and comfortable. He loved the things we brought.

Grandpa Charles told us amazing stories. He told us his crazy jokes. He wasn't the same person I talked to before. He was the same grandpa I remembered.

One week later the whole family was summoned back to the hospice care center. The doctor told us grandpa Charles wasn't going to survive the night. This was our last chance to say goodbye.

We all went inside to say goodbye. We hugged grandpa Charles. We told him we loved him. We cried. It was the hardest thing I ever did. Then grandpa Charles dropped a bomb on us.

He told us something that was so horrible none of us believed grandpa Charles was ever involved in. Grandpa Charles said it was the truth. We were shocked but we loved him. He apologized to us. The next day he was gone.

The day of the funeral came. I was still reeling from grandpa Charles confession. I know the rest of the family was too. We came together to say goodbye to the man we loved with all our heart.

Grandpa Charles was a decorated soldier. He was in the Army. Many of his Army buddies came to pay their last respects. They told stories of their time in the Army, stories I never heard. I wonder if they knew or were involved in what grandpa Charles confess to us.

I didn't ask but it was in the back of my mind. It still is. But the funeral wasn't the time to dwell on that. It was a time for my family and friends to say one last goodbye.

It wasn't until after we buried grandpa Charles when the full weight of his confession hit us and it hit us real hard especially when we found out Nana knew.

I never seen my father and uncles mad. There was a lot of yelling and cursing. Nana had a panic attack and fainted. My uncles stormed out of the house. My father stayed with Nana.

My family was divided. It was horrible to see. My uncles couldn't be in the same room as Nana. My father tried with all of his power to make my uncles see reason. He failed.

I tried to remember grandpa Charles as the man I came too when I couldn't speak to my father. The man who always gave me candy and special desserts.

Right now, I'm not thinking about my family feud. I'm not thinking about the horrible crime grandpa Charles committed. I'm not thinking about how grandpa Charles tore the family apart.

I'm thinking about the good memories I had with grandpa Charles. The best memories were at grandpa Charles cabin up in the mountains. I loved going there especially during the winter season. I love the snow.

I remember spending so many Christmases at the cabin. Grandpa Charles would cut down the biggest tree that was 7ft tall. I loved roasting marsh mellows and drinking hot cocoa. I loved building a snowman with grandpa Charles.

Summer vacations with grandpa Charles were some of the best times I ever had. Grandpa Charles and Nana had another cabin which was at the lake located at Lake Willowbend or Willowbend waters.

I loved going there as a child. I loved swimming at the lake. It was at the lake where I learned how to swim. Grandpa Charles taught me.

I was scared to swim in the lake. Grandpa Charles held me until I wasn't scared anymore. He didn't rush me. He didn't yell at me. He was patient with me.

I had so many good memories at the lake and at the cabin in the mountains. There are too many to relive. It will take me many days and hours to relive all the good memories me and grandpa Charles had together.

Besides the memories, I also have many pictures of me and grandpa Charles. I love looking at these pictures because it helps me be closer to grandpa Charles.

Tears are falling down my face thinking about grandpa Charles last words and how it tore my family apart. Nothing is ever going to be the same.

The only thing that is bringing me comfort and that I will hold dear in my heart is the cherished memories grandpa Charles gave me.

I don't want to remember grandpa Charles as a bad man but as the kind of man I always counted on during the bad times and good times. I love you so much my grandpa.