Chapter 3 LOSING MY FATHER

CHAPTER 3

DAMIEN Three Months Ago Losing my father 3 months ago to a cardiac arrest was something I did not see coming. I clearly remember when I had the call from Miss Rosie our cook about my father's attack while away on a business trip in New York, I stopped everything and headed back to Seattle within a matter of hours. Fortunately, he was still alive although on oxygen at the St.Louis Hospital I had the chance to have a conversation with him not knowing that was the last time. I arrived at the hospital in a rush immediately I landed in Seattle. I went straight to my father’s private hospital room only to find my father hooked on lots of medical equipment. My father looked very pale and weary. “Father”, I said the moment I sat next to him. He gave me a tired smile and said “My boy you came. I thought you wouldn't be able to come see me because of your business trip.”

“Dad you know you’re the most important person and the only surviving family I have. So what makes you think I won't come see you after I got informed"I said to him in a low tone. “Son I appreciate you for this because I feel deep within me that I won’t be able to make it time around. I feel very weak and tired my son", my father said to me.

“No Dad please do not talk like this. You are Williams Donovan a very strong man you’ll be able to come out of this as you always do.”I said holding onto his hands very tightly. Deep down I had the same thoughts as he did but I did not want to come to the terms of losing my father. “Damien, my boy I want to tell you something” My father said.

“Alright, Dad please go ahead I am all ears.”

“Son I want you to promise me that you’ll take good care of the company and let the legacy of the family continue. Also, I want you  to promise me to do whatever I have asked you to as stated in my last will when it is been read after my burial.”  I interrupted him and said “Dad I beg you to stop talking about you dying because you are not going to die. You’ll be fine the doctors are going to make sure of that.” “Son, please just promise me you will do whatever I am asking of you.”He said with a very weak yet reassuring smile.

I took in a deep breath and said “Alright Dad I promise to take good care of the company and also I promise to do whatever you have instructed me to do in your last will”. “Thank you very much, my boy. Always remember that I love you and I am proud of how you have been handling the affairs of the family business.”My father said with a tired look and smile on his face. “I love you too Dad and I am also so proud to be your son. Thank you for all your guidance too father.”I replied still with his hands tightly held in mine.

“You are always welcome, my son.”My father said before finally closing his ears. The beeping sound from the electrocardiac monitor suddenly stops.

“Dad, Dad, Dad!!!!” I screamed my lungs out. I pressed the hospital bell and doctors rushed in immediately.

“Mr.Donovan you need to exit the room", a nurse said.

“I am not going anywhere. Just do your fucking job my dad needs to make it alive.”I angrily said to her. The doctors tried their very best to resuscitate my father for the next ten minutes but it all proved futile.

“Time of Death 11:50 PM”. one doctor said and gave me a remorseful look. “We are sorry Mr.Donovan, your father could not make it.”   I quietly moved to my father's lifeless body and gave him a tight hug with tears running down my cheeks. “I love you Dad and I promise to do whatever you asked me to. Thank you for making me who I am today and I promise to uphold the legacy of the family.” I muttered to my father.

I slowly left the hospital room with my heart shattered into pieces as I am now all alone in this cold world. The last time I felt this kind of pain was when I lost my mom at the age of sixteen and fourteen years later I encountered this same pain and void which I know will forever be stuck with me. I got home and I went straight to my father's room. I looked around and it hit me that I won't see him ever again in this room. I look around and I see the beautiful portrait of my parents all I ever want in this moment is for them to be here with me again but I know that’s impossible. Death is something that has turned me into a very coldhearted person because I have lost the people I loved the most to death.

My father's burial was a grand one as people from far and near came to bid him farewell. It was a very gloomy day for me as I laid my only surviving family to rest. The funeral service was a peaceful one as I strictly ensured that there was no media present at his burial. I wanted to bid my father farewell in a very private memorial service and that’s exactly how it went.