An 18-year-old boy stares out the window searching for answers. His name is Joseph, but his father calls him Eppy. It was no surprise to him that his dad was overprotective of him. The year that he was born was the day that his dad lost his wife. This was the only day that Eppy’s mom made the decision without the consultation his father. It was then that his father promised to take care of the only memory his wife left him, Eppy. He never went to school. His life evolved around taking care of the garden that his father and him have been giving all their efforts on.
Everything was well between them until Eppy turned 18. It’s almost a year since he had his 18th birthday. He remembers that day vividly for it was day that his dad last spoke to him.. He was called by his dad for a talk. He came into the door and sat on the chair, which was directly in front of his dad. It was the first time his dad has given him money to spend on his own, “Son, starting today u will live your own life. You’re now 18 and I believe it is time you go out the house and explore the world out there. I want you to live on your own terms. Just be home by twelve ok?”
Eppy drives off and goes to where most people went at night. He stepped into the bar and sat in front of the bar tender. He asks what people do in such a place. The barkeeper answers, “They drink alcohol.” With that he asks for alcohol and downs it in one down. The barkeeper was surprised and says, “hell boy, slow down.” The night goes on and by 11 he has drank more than a bottle of whisky. He felt his head get woozy and decides to go home.
He was driving home when his eyes starts to close involuntarily. He knew he was sleepy thus he decides to sleep.
The next morning he walks into the house and finds no one. He then sat on the sofa in the living room and falls asleep. About 15 minutes into his sleep he hears his dad’s voice. He then stands up to look for him and sees his dad crying in the kitchen. He just stood there looking at him. He realizes that this is also the time when his mom died. He should’ve known better. He should’ve just stayed at home with his dad. Although it was his birthday it was also his mom’s death anniversary. He felt guilty and just decides to walk away.
That entire week his dad would be gone from the time he wakes up till he was ready for sleep. In that week his dad was always wearing black. He figures this was his way to mourn for his beloved wife and he respected the gesture. And since then his dad would always come home very drunk. And since he knew how being drunk felt like he understood that his dad just needed rest. And so every night he would just walk away from the sight of his drunken dad.
Since then, he never spoke to his dad ever again. Even if he tried his dad would simply walk away.
That entire year Eppy just concentrated on keeping the garden beautiful thinking that maybe this act will bring him to his father’s good graces..
Today, Eppy celebrates his 19th birthday and now he knows better and decides to just stay in the house to watch over his dad. At night he heard someone else’s voice at home. It was the first time since last year that his dad has invited a neighbor into the house. Although it was exciting to receive a guest, he knew that this was his father’s guest and not his own. It was pretty obvious that they were about to drink alcohol. and as the 2 had sat on the living room sofa Eppy decides to sit in the kitchen where he knew he was going to be able to overhear them.
His father starts the conversation by saying, “today we celebrate my son’s birthday, and tomorrow I mourn my wife.”
The guest answers back by saying, “man what has happened to you? Do you not understand that your son has been taking care of the garden? Do you not see that it has been a year since you have been there yet it has been blooming all those wonderful flowers?”
His dad looked offended and forcefully says, “I’d rather not talk about my son. I’m sorry, it was last year that I told him to be his own man and live. Right now, I am looking forward to speaking to my wife instead. If you have noticed man, my son is not here.”
Eppy was upset and decides to go into the living room to speak in his behalf, “Dad, I am here. Why are you doing this to me? You might have asked me to live my life but I never agreed to live it without you. Dad, I miss you.”
And just like his dad always did this past year he just stands up and tells the neighbor, “I’m sorry, but I don’t think this was a good idea after all. I’m going to bed.”
As his dad climbed the stairs, Eppy, feeling snubbed, picks up a glass and throws it to the wall. The neighbor knowing this was not his place decides to run out the door.
Once again, Eppy was left alone. He cried all night thinking that maybe tomorrow he should go with his dad to visit his mom’s grave. Probably then they could have a good conversation. One in which he will be heard.
The next morning, Eppy wakes up and runs to his dad’s room only to discover that he has already gone. With much haste, he puts on his pants and a shirt and runs after his dad.
He arrives and sees his dad standing in front of his mother’s grave. As he got closer he heard him talking, “I cannot believe I’m here today without our son. I remember you telling me to take care of him for your last breath. Now, I am here alone. I loved our son, I really did. But now I no longer can.”
In confusion Eppy steps up from behind his dad and speaks up, “Why dad? Why can you not love me? I have always been here for you. It’s just that you have only neglected me this past year.”
His dad collapses to his knees crying to the near grave, “I’m sorry son. I have failed both you and your mother. I was not able to show you how much I cared. In the moment that counted I wasn’t able to protect you from harm. I just hope through all of these you knew that I loved you.”
Eppy started to cry and as he reached out to say I love you in return, his father stood up, only to reveal the name on the grave just beside his mother’s.
It was then that Eppy realized, in the year that all he wanted to tell his dad that he loved him, it was just not possible. His dad was standing over Eppy’s grave, the place where Eppy have laid in peace for that entire year. In that moment of clarity, he understood that on the day his dad gave him the chance to live he was found dead inside their car that crashed into a tree.
People always say, you only realize a person’s importance when they are gone. What they don’t realize is that it is just as hard when it is you that’s gone
