Forgiveness For A Dying Man

Percy Styles sits in the waiting room of his doctors office along side his wife Victoria. He had a biopsy two weeks ago and was called in to get the results. Dr. Ellington comes in with his glasses down over his nose with Percy's folder. Victoria reaches for Percy's hand as the doctor sits behind his desk.

“Is everything alright doc?' asks Percy.

“I'm afraid I have some bad news,” says Dr. Ellington. “You have stage IV pancreatic cancer.”

“Oh my God,” say Victoria.

“What should we do now?” asks Percy.

“It's so advanced Percy,” says Dr. Ellington. “You have two months maybe less.”

“No-no, no!” exclaim Victoria.

“I'll leave you two alone,” says Dr. Ellington.

Percy and Victoria embraced and sobbed in each others arms. So many thoughts were going through Percy's head about the things he should have done. One of the main things he wished is that he had stopped putting off the pain he felt and went to the doctor earlier. Percy and Victoria had to tell their children the sad news. He thought about his older daughter by his first wife that he didn't have a relationship with because of his ex wife bitterness after they divorced. Percy tried to reach out to his daughter multiple times and she refused to talk to him. He wondered if she would talk to him before it was too late. When they arrived home, their three children were seated in the living room waiting. From looking at her mother and father's face, Daphne broke down rushing into her father's arms.

“There, there now,” said Percy. “It will be alright.”

Percy's two son's Riley and Daniel embraced their father. The children had fixed dinner for their parents while they were at the doctor's office. After the sad news, no one was in the mood to eat anything. Victoria went into the kitchen to put the food away.

“Maybe we'll have it later,” said Victoria.

The children had all went up to their rooms. Percy went into his study to smoke a cigar. He got up from his chair and started looking into his desk. There among many other important papers was a tan spiral notebook. He had written his daughter's address and phone number on the back page. He picked up the telephone and began dialing her number. The phone began to ring and this time she answers.

'Hello,” says Mindy.

“Hello,” says Percy. “Do you know who this is?”

“Yes, I do,” said Mindy. “How are you doing?”

“Not too good,” said Percy. “I would like to see you.”

“Okay,” says Mindy. “I have time tomorrow.”

“Let's meet at Ruby Nell's Diner,” says Percy. “Around 2 pm.”

“I'll see you then,” says Mindy. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” says Percy.

Percy puts the phone down on the receiver. He put his head in his hands and wondered how will he break this news to his daughter. He had such little time and was grateful that she did answer the phone to talk to him. Maybe deep down she felt that her father really needs her now. Percy and his wife wanted his final moments to spent surrounded by family. Dr. Ellington wanted him to be placed in Hospice so that he could get around the clock care with pain management his final days. In one month it seemed that he had dropped eighty pounds. Percy could barely get around without a cane. He was determined to muster up enough strength to get to know his older child better with the little time he had left. It was so dishearten of her mother Angela to keep her from him all these years. He had missed out on so many special moments of her life which filled him with guilt. The one thing hat he wanted more than more time with his family is forgiveness from Mindy. He's hoped that all the horrible things Mindy's mother had told her wouldn't keep them from getting closer.

The next day, Percy awaken to the smell of coffee and bacon cooking. His wife Victoria was playing gospel music in the back ground while she cooked. Her favorite gospel singer was Shirley Caesar. Victoria would sing along with Shirley not missing a note. Percy told her that she could have been a singer if she wasn't so shy. He loved how the plum color would show in her cheeks when she blushed. Percy was now sleeping downstairs to make things a bit easier for him to move around. As Victoria set his food down in front of him, he felt a sick feeling well up inside his stomach. Percy quickly got up from the table and went to the bathroom. Victoria could hear him vomiting in the bathroom. She ran to the door to see if he was alright.

“Percy, Are you okay?” asks Victoria.

“Yea,” says Percy. “The smell of food makes me sick now.”

“I'm sorry honey,” says Victoria.

“I got to meet Mindy today,” says Percy. “I hope the smell of food at the diner don't make me sick again.”

“Aw honey,” says Victoria.

“I'll lay down a bit,” says Percy. “ Maybe I'll feel better in time to meet Mindy.”

“Alright dear,” say Victoria.

It was 1:45 pm, Victoria went into the bedroom to awake Percy. He was sleeping so peaceful that, she decided to go the restaurant to meet Mindy instead. When Victoria got to Ruby's, Mindy had already taken a seat at one of the tables.

“Mindy,” says Victoria. “Do you remember me?”

“Yes,” says Mindy. “Where is dad?”

“He wasn't feeling so well,” says Victoria. “Would you like to come to the house?”

“Okay,” Said Mindy. “I'll follow you in my car.”

“Alright,” said Victoria.

When they got to the house, Percy was sitting outside in his car. He stood outside his car in amazement as his daughter pulled into the yard.

“I was wondering where you had gone,” said Percy.

“ I didn't want to wake you,” said Victoria. “Feeling better?”

“Yea, I guess,” said Percy.

“Hello, dad,” said Mindy. “What's wrong?”

“Let's go inside,” said Percy.

Inside the house Percy explain to his daughter about his illness. How wanted her to know that he was sorry all those years that he wasn't in her life. Telling her about her mother's hateful ways of keeping him from seeing her. Mindy sat next to her dad and told him she knew all about what her mother had done. When Mindy was in tenth grade, she had found the letter her father had written to her. She told her dad she read every one of the letters and put them into a box in her room for keepsake.

“How come you never answered my calls?” asked Percy. “I got your number from your Aunt Jill."

“Whenever you call mother was around,” said Mindy. “ She and I are not close anymore."

“I'm sorry to hear that," said Percy.

“You know how she was,” said Mindy.

“I want to ask you forgiveness,” said Percy. “I'm so sorry that I wasn't around when you needed me most.”

“I understand that dad,” said Mindy. “I had forgiven you years ago.”

Percy got up out of his chair and embraced his daughter tightly. Mindy came to see her father every day until his passing. He died peacefully in his sleep one Sunday morning in spring. Percy had wanted to be cremated and for the family to spread his ashes along the Black Warrior River. He enjoyed going there fishing with his father when he was younger and talked about it endlessly. Victoria and their children including Mindy rented a boat to a fulfill Percy's last request. Mindy held the vase with her father's remains as they coast along the Black Warrior River. It was a peaceful Saturday afternoon. The sky pretty and blue with floating clouds that seem to dance. The sun hone down upon the boat brightly and the water in the river seemed to cast a reflection of shimmering colors. Mindy took the top off the vase and began to spread her father's ashes across the shore.

“Until we meet again my love,” said Victoria.

They continued their journey down the river. The sun was starting to go down and they returned to the river bank. Mindy moved in with Victoria and her siblings. This is what she always wanted a loving family of her own.