Alex Pallikarides – 19/03/2022
It started with a journey. A journey that began before I could remember, with the squeeze of a finger, tears (happy ones of course) and a promise. Oh yes, a promise; to love eternally, protect fiercely and guide through this life while never letting go of the little hand that held his heart.
A father’s job is everything but simple. In fact, it’s quite an extensive list that comes without a manual. He must pick you up when you fall, dust you off and let you try again. He wants to keep you from making mistakes but instead, lets you find your own way, even though it breaks his heart to see you get hurt. His job is to hold you when you cry, scold you when you break the rules, shine with pride when you succeed and has faith in you, even if you fail. Father’s give you the courage to do the things you never thought you could.
It’s true what they say, any man can be a father; it takes someone very remarkable to be a dad. Mine not only did his job, he excelled at it.
Little boys have Superhero dads, their dad is their hero and there is no argument against that. Little girls see their daddies as Kings. This kingdom would be safe and nothing would breach this castle as long as that King sat in his throne. Yes, some days the throne happened to be the comfiest couch in front of the tv and his staff, the remote. But still, there was nothing the King couldn’t do.
There was no monster hiding under the bed that you couldn’t chase away. There was never a nightmare you couldn’t soothe. And never a nerve you couldn’t ease. There wasn’t a single thing in this great, big world you couldn’t protect me against. You prepared me for everything I would need to face. Well, almost everything.
You only made one mistake, there was one thing you forgot to prepare me for. You never taught me how to live after losing you. How the hell was I supposed to do that?
Only years later did I realise that it was never your lesson to teach me. I had to learn it on my own but, you gave me the strength to try.
The time had come. They wanted to shut off the lights. You can feel my hand on yours as your breathing slows. This journey will end as it started; with my hand in yours.
I will be the last to go, so I will leave the light on for you. Close your eyes, absorb the glow, let there be no darkness in your heart. While you’re asleep, I will do all that I can to make you proud. Rest easy, it’s my turn to chase the monsters away.
I will see you again someday. You can take my hand once more and guide me on a new journey.
For now, Daddy, keep well.
