257: THROWBACK: BROKEN LUKE’S POV FLASHBACK It was a beautiful summer morning, and I eagerly awaited my grandfather’s arrival. He had promised to take me fishing today, something that we did a lot when I was very young. I was only nineteen currently, rich as hell, but we wanted to enjoy this moment differently. I was excited to spend the day with him and just be in his company. As soon as I saw his car driving in my direction, I grabbed my fishing gear and ran outside. My grandfather, who had always been there for me, greeted me with a warm smile and a pat on the back. “Ready to catch some fish, Luke?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with excitement. “Definitely, Grandpa!” I replied, grinning from ear to ear. We drove to our favorite fishing spot by the lake, just like we used to when I was a kid. I set up my fishing rod while Grandpa prepared the bait. We sat in silence for a while, enjoying the peacefulness of our surroundings. After a few minutes, Grandpa broke the silence. “So, how’s school going, Luke?” “It’s going okay, I guess,” I replied, not wanting to dwell on the subject. School has been tough ever since my parents passed away in a car accident a year ago. “I miss them, Grandpa,” I blurted out, my voice cracking with emotion. Grandpa put his hand on my shoulder and looked at me with a sad smile. “I know, Luke. I miss them, too. But they will always be in our hearts and memories with us. Tears welled up in my eyes as I remembered the good times I had with my parents. Grandpa handed me a tissue and waited patiently for me to compose myself. “You know, Luke, your parents were the best thing that ever happened to me. And you are a part of them. They will always be proud of you, no matter where they are,” Grandpa said, his voice full of love and affection.. I nodded, trying to hold back my tears. I was grateful to have Grandpa in my life; he had been my rock since my parents‘ deaths. He had always been there for me, comforting me and guiding me through the tough times. “I love you, Grandpa,” I said, hugging him tightly. “I love you too, Luke. And I will always be here for you, no matter what,” he replied, returning the hug. We spent the rest of the day fishing and talking about everything under the sun. Grandpa shared stories about my parents that I had never heard before. We laughed and reminisced, and for a 25 BAE BROWIN moment, I forgot about my sadness and just enjoyed being in the present As the sun began to set, we packed up our things and headed back home. I couldn’t thank Grandpa enough for the wonderful day we had. I knew my parents were looking down on us, happy to see us spend quality time together. “I had a great time today, Grandpa. Thank you,” I said, breaking the silence in the car. ‘Anytime, Luke. You know I love spending time with you,” he replied, smiling at me. I smiled back, feeling grateful for having such a loving and caring grandfather. I knew that no matter what, he would always be there for me, just like my parents would have been. And that though brought me comfort and solace. As we reached home, Grandpa ruffled my hair. “Just remember, Lake, I will always be here for you no matter what happens. And your parents will always be watching over you.‘ I hugged him once again, feeling blessed to have him in my life. And as I went to bed that night, I felt a sense of peace and contentment, knowing that I had my grandpa by my side, and that was all that mattered. Yes, the money was there, but it wasn’t compared to the joy and love this man gave me occasionally. Well, he was also the one who gave me the money. I was sitting at the dining table in my parents‘ grand mansion, eagerly waiting to be served my favorite dish by the maid, Lily. She always made the most delicious mac and cheese; I couldn’t wait to dig in. As a seven–year–old, food was always on my mind. “Here you go, Luke,” Lily said with a warm smile as she placed the plate in front of me. “Thank you, Lily! It looks amazing,” I replied, my mouth already watering. I took a big bite and closed my eyes in bliss. But my enjoyment was short–lived when I heard another maid, Farana, sobbing as she entered the room. “Farana, what’s wrong?” I asked, concerned. She wiped her tears and tried to compose herself before answering, “Luke, I have some terrible news.” My heart started pounding with fear. “What is it, Farana? What happened?” “It’s your parents, Luke. They were in a car accident. They didn’t make it,” she said, her voice trembling. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My parents couldn’t be gone. They were supposed to come back. from their business trip today. They promised to bring me a surprise. “No, no, that can’t be true. They can’t leave me,” I said, tears streaming down my face. “I’m so sorry, Luke. I wish it wasn’t true,” Farana said, tears now falling freely. I couldn’t take it anymore. I pushed my plate away and ran out of the mansion, not wanting to believe the devastating news. I ran through the gardens, past the fountain, and into the woods behind the 257 THROWBACK BROKEN mansion. I didn’t know where I was going, but I just couldn’t stay in that house anymore. 3/3 As I ran, I heard someone calling my name. It was my grandfather, who lived in a cottage nearby. He was running towards me, his face filled with worry. “Luke, what’s wrong? Why are you running like that?” he asked, out of breath. “It’s not true, is it, Grandpa? Farana said, My parents are dead, but that can’t be true, right?” I asked, desperately hoping for him to deny it. “I’m sorry, my boy. It’s true. I just got the news myself. Your parents were on their way home when they had a terrible accident. They didn’t survive,” he said, his voice breaking. I collapsed to the ground, my world falling apart. My parents were my everything. They were my best friends, my superheroes, and now they were gone. My grandfather sat down next to me and put his arm around me. We stayed like that for what felt like hours, crying and grieving for the loss of my parents. As the days went by, I slowly began to accept the reality of the situation. But it was my grandfather who helped me through it all. He became my rock and my constant support in this difficult time. Even though I missed my parents terribly, I knew they would always be with me in spirit. From that day on, my grandfather and I became even closer. He became my new best friend, and I will forever be grateful for his love and guidance during the toughest time of my life.
