The Day My Father Died

It was an ordinary day in our house.We were all preparing to go to school,my father was getting ready for work.In the mornings we would all have our breakfast together before we went about the day.Only this day I was through eating and wanted to finish getting ready for school.I passed my father on the stairs as he was coming down for his breakfast.Little did I know this would be the last time I would see him.There was no words spoken,no good mornings or goodbyes,just a simple smile.

We got to school to find we had substitute teachers for a few of our classes.While we were all thrilled at the easy day we would have, there was something uneasy about the situation. Rumors were spreading through the school that the cause for the teachers absence was due to a car accident on a bridge near-by. Immediately I had a terrible feeling inside. I knew something was not right. I could sense that it was my father that had been in the accident. He went across that bridge every day on his way to work. I got through the rest of the school day,it was a half day .

When I arrived at the bus stop my grandpa was there to pick me up. He had my sisters and brother in the car with him already.He told us that there had been a car accident and my dad was involved. He was at the hospital and my mom and grandma had gone to be with him. I remember thinking of that terrible feeling I had at school. How could I have known that my dad was the one in the accident?

We went to my grandma and grandpa's house to wait for word from my mom .I'll never forget what happened next. My mom ,grandma,and aunt arrived back at the house.There was a silence unlike anything I had ever known. I could tell they had all been crying from the looks on their faces. My grandma was the one to start talking first. She told us that my dad had been in a terrible accident and he had been rushed to the hospital.They had preformed surgery on him and did everything they could,but it wasn't enough.There wasn't anything they could due to save my dad. He was gone.

My head started spinning ,I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My dad was gone ,this couldn't be right. I had just seen him in the morning ,I hadn't even told him goodbye that day.Then I looked at my mom and I knew it was true.My dad was gone,he had went to heaven.The next few days were the hardest days in my life. We had to learn one of the hardest lessons in life.The lesson of death. Before this we hadn't any experience with death.We had never been to a funeral. We knew of a few relatives that had passed on ,but that was the extent.

I was the oldest of the four kids , and I knew I had to be strong for their sake. We never got to see my father after he died.They said his injuries were to severe,and they did not want us to remember him like that. I know that they were doing what they thought was right for us.I sometimes wish I could of seen him though and had that final look.

It will be 17 years since my father passed away on the morning of April 12. I look back and I remember how chilly the air was that day.It rained all afternoon,but the next day it was beautiful out.The sun shined so bright,and the air had turned from brisk to warm.I wish I would of said goodbye to my dad that day,instead of being in such a rush. Never take a day you spend with your loved ones for granted. There just might not be a tomorrow to spend with them. There is not a day go by I don't think of my dad. It's getting harder to remember the way his voice sounded, or the way he smelled of his favorite cologne, but I will never forget the wonderful man he was.