Dying Wish

Amber was lying in bed trying to figure what she what she was going to do with the rest of her life when her phone buzzed to signal she had a text message coming in. Did she really want to look at it? It was probably Jordan, trying to convince her to let him come back. Not this time. She was done.

This wasn't the first time she saw him with other women. It was just the first time she caught him intimately kissing another woman. Kissing her in a way he should have only been kissing Amber. There was no way for him to get out of this one. Nothing he would be able to say or do that would convince Amber he was not cheating on her.

But the phone was relentless. It was not going to be ignored. So she finally just grabbed it and was getting ready to ignore the message when she realized it was not from him, but her mother. “Please call me when you get this. URGENT!”

Amber, immediately starting to freak out, called her mom to see what was going on. What she found out was something that was about to change her life. He father was dying. They found out he had some rare blood disease, and probably had less than a year left.

Amber packed up her bags and headed to her old home, to help her mom take care of her dad. She always hated the town, got out as soon as she graduated high-school. But afer 12 years of being gone, she is finding her way back.

She spent most of her days taking care of her father's needs, helping him to the bathroom, taking him for walks around the neighborhood, cooking and cleaning for him while her mom worked. In the evening it was her mother's turn to take care of him, while she spent most of her time on the beach, walking the sand and looking at the sunset.

One evening, when she was just about to head home, she ran into her old high school boyfriend. Mark Davis. As soon as she saw him, all the old feelings came rushing back. But she couldn't allow for anything to happen. She didn't have time for romance in her life. She was here to take care of her dying father. Once he was gone, she was going to be leaving again.

As he approached her, she just kind of brushed him off, and started heading toward her car to go home. But Mark would not be ignored. “You aren't even going to say hi?”

“Wasn't planning on it,” she responded.”Listen Mark, I really have to get back to my parents house.”

“We should catch up sometime. How long are you in town?”

“I really have no idea. My dad is really sick, so I am helping my mom take care of him.”

“I'm sorry to hear that. Maybe I will stop by sometime this week to see if I can help.”

“I'm sure my mom would appreciate that. But I really have to get going.” And Amber tried to start walking to her car again.

“Hey, can I get your number?”

“Mark, that really isn't a good idea. I don't really think I will be around here long.” This time as he started talking to her, Amber just continued walking to her car.

When she got home that evening, she told her mom about running into Mark. She told her mom about how the old feelings came rushing back, and how all she wanted to do was just get back here away from it all. Then told her mom about Jordan, and all the horrible things he had done to her.

The next day, Mark came by the house on his lunch break to see if any of them needed any help with anything. He found Amber and her dad sitting on the back deck, Amber reading and her father just looking into the sky.

He took Amber by surprised. She didn't hear him come out to the back. He just sat there looking at Amber for a few minutes. It was starting to make Amber feel uncomfortable. It was her father who broke the silence.

“I don't know why you too never got married. You were always such a good couple.”

“Dad! Why would you say that?” Amber was blushing at her father's words. “Besides, it would have never worked out. He was bound and determined he could never see himself living anywhere but here. I needed out of this town.”

“What is wrong with this town?” Mark asked.

“Everything! There is nothing to do except for walk the beach.” Amber stated.

“Well, maybe you will find your place here, and stick around. Even after I am gone. Your mother will be alone.” her dad said.

“I am not having this discussion now.” Amber said.

Later that night, as Amber was watching the tide rolling in, she thought she saw a ship on the horizon, and she wandered what adventure it was on, and was jealous of all who were on it. She always just felt trapped in this small town. She needed more. It always made her feel like the walls were closing in on her.

Suddenly, she felt the arm around her shoulders. She turned to see Mark sitting next to her. “Earth to Amber!” he was only halfway joking. “Penny for your thoughts?”

“Mark, I can't stay here. Once dad is gone, I need to go to. I am already starting to feel restless. I don't belong here.” Amber blurted out.

“But while you are here you might as well make the best out of your situation.” Mark responded. “Who knows, maybe you will change your mind.”

Mark and Amber starting spending a lot more time together, hanging out at the beach, watching movies at Mark's, Mark even started eating dinner at Amber's parents almost every night, and stopped by to check on Amber and her dad every afternoon on his lunch.

One day toward the end, Amber's dad made his comment again. “Why are you and Mark not married?”

“Well, because dad. He never asked me.” She told him. Mark was standing at the door, but neither Amber nor her dad knew it. He heard it all.

The next day, he showed up to dinner with a ring, and proposed to Amber with her parents there.

Two weeks later, they were married in her parents backyard.

That night, in his sleep, Amber's father passed away.

It was his dying wish to see his daughter happily married to the man she should have been with all these years, instead of traipsing around trying to find more adventures.