41 JUST A WISH LUKE’S POV “Luke my grandson. We’ve come a long way, and I’m really happy to have you by my side. I know, we’ve been through ups and downs. And there have been some terrible moments when I made you uncomfortable. I apologize for all the reproach, for hurting you in any way. But all this I did, I did for love. It’s never my wish to see you go astray, it’s never my wish to see you sad also. These past few days, I’ve been really troubled by the sickness. And I have the feeling that today might be my last day on earth. But before I go to the other world, I just want to let you know that I love you so much. You mean a lot to me. Seeing you smile, makes me smile, and it hurts to see you sad. I’ve always wanted the best for you. Giving you the wealth, passing the Reynold company over to you. But money isn’t the thing I’m talking about here. I’m talking about love, because the love I have for you is one in a million. I cherish the moments spent with you. Thinking about those times bring nothing but joy to my heart. Yes, you have my heart my grandson. And I will never stop thinking about you, even if I’m dead. You have promised me, grandson; that you will get married to Ariel. I know you made such decision. all because of me, and I appreciate that. But please, I want you to love her with the whole of your heart. Treat her like a queen, take good care of her, without anyone reminding you to. I might not be able to witness the wedding of you two. But please, please please please. If I die today, I don’t want you to change your decision. Marry her, give her all of your attention, love her to the fullest, give her a remarkable spot in your heart. This is my wish my grandson. Please, do not change your decision. Make Ariel your lovely wife, and take good care of her to the point that people will become jealous of the two of you. And I will be watching you from up there, pleased with your actions. So do not let anyone talk bad about Ariel, and hold her tight, never letting go. This is what I want from you, and it might be my last wish. I love you my grandson.” As I held the letter in my trembling hands, the weight of its words began to sink deep into my heart. Each simple sentence carried a heavy burden, weighing down my soul with sorrow. With a heavy sigh, I closed my eyes, hoping to find solace in the darkness that enveloped me. Tears welled up, rolling down my cheeks, as I struggled to accept the truth. My beloved grandfather had departed from this world, leaving behind an emptiness that could never be filled. The pain washed over me like a relentless tide, consuming every fiber of my being. Memories of his warm smile and gentle laughter flooded my mind, intensifying the ache in my chest. The room seemed colder, the air heavier, as the reality of his absence settled in. No longer would I hear his comforting words or feel his reassuring presence. 1/3 13 41 JUST A WISH The world suddenly felt devoid of color, as if the sum had lost its brilliance. The future seemed uncertain, as I would have to navigate life’s challenges without his wise counsel. Grief held me tightly in its embrace, suffocating my spirit. Every breath was a struggle, every heartbeat a painful reminder of the void left behind. The moment I opened my eyes, the tears continued to flow, mingling with the ink on the letter that held the final words from my grandfather. His absence would always be felt, but his memory would remain eternally cherished. Frank Reynold, you will forever be in my heart. I turned to Riley. “He’s gone Riley, he’s gone.” My tears got harder, and she quickly embraced me. “It’s okay Luke,” she tried to comfort me, yet she was still broken, bringing tears out of her eyes. “I’m never going to see him again.” I hugged her tightly, and the letter fell from my hands. “Yes, we’re all going to miss him. But you have to stay strong. If he was here, he wouldn’t want to see you like this.” Riley told me. “I just can’t believe it. I can’t believe he’s gone,” I continued mourning. “Stay strong Luke. Stay strong,” Riley said. ARIEL’S POV Here I was, still standing like a majestic flamingo, trying to figure out what on earth was going on. And there was Mason, who continued struggling through his squat. I couldn’t help but wonder if he had secretly enrolled in a “Stand–Off Against Gravity” competition. Like, who in the world willingly tortured themselves like this? The silence between us stretched on, as if time had decided to take a coffee break and left us hanging. Was this some sort of Zen meditation? I half–expected him to start levitating or summon a flock of birds to perch on his shoulders. But no, he just kept squatting, eyes closed, as if searching for the meaning of life in the crackling flames. I pondered over whether I should slap him in the head, or even worse, thrust him to the fire. Just like how the Hillsong music goes: another in the fire. This was a perfect opportunity, right? After what seemed like eternity, Mason let out a deep sigh. I took a step forward, with the intention of ending this nonsense once and for all. “You know, when you told me you wanted to speak with me about something important, I never thought it would be this.” I said, getting closer to him. The fire seemed calm than before, and this was really creepy. “Can you please be more respectful?” Mason aksed, his eyes were still closed. “No. But there’s something I can do; get the hell out of here.” 41 JUST A WISH 3/3 Mason breathed out deeply, and got to his feet. “Do you want to know why I’ve brought you here?” I didn’t give him a reply. But of course, I wanted to know. I didn’t want to be in this creepy location anymore. He walked to a huge stone on the ground, and grabbed a blue vase which was close to it. “Do you have any idea what this is?” He aksed, showing me the vase which he had on his hands. “Uhmm, it’s a vase?” I replied slowly, creating a confused face. “Yes, but do you know what’s in this vase?” He queried. I rolled my eyes. “How am I supposed to know?” “My girlfriend’s ashes.” He answered. “Your girlfriend’s ashes,” I repeated. “You mister, had a girlfriend? And if you did, that means she’s dead.” “Exactly,” Mason answered, fixing his eyes on the vase. “She was my diamond, she meant the whole world to me.” His countenance was now sad. “Sorry to ask, but what killed her?” I aksed in a slow manner. “It’s not what killed her; who killed her.” “Hmm okay then, who killed her?” I quizzed. Mason chuckled, I could see pain in his eyes. “You want to know, huh?” He asked. No response came from me, I was just staring at him, waiting for a perfect answer to my question. “I’ll tell you,” he said and looked at me. “It’s none other than your beloved husband, Luke.”
