The Journey

The alarm pounds, it’s 6am another dreary cold winters morning, Abby touches the snooze button as she sleepily rolls onto her side, clutching at the doonah for warmth. Tiny foot steps pitter patter down the hall, the floor boards creak as pressure is placed on them upon the entrance to the bedroom door, “mummy?!” A faint voice calls out, Abby lifts her body to sit up in bed as she gestures her little boy to come for a cuddle, he races over, carrying his favourite stuffed bunny and rolled up pyjama pants. “Good morning, my baby” as Abby pulls him up onto the bed kissing his cheeks, “it’s Monday, and today you have swimming at school” Abby explains, Joseph smiles as he climbs down from the bed and begins to get ready for school. Abby sighs as she glances out her window and drags herself up to commence the day. She enters the kitchen, her attention is first drawn to the notice to leave letter attached to her fridge. Abby and Joseph have 3 days to vacate the premises and after failed attempt after attempt at obtaining a new rental property, Abby feels they may be homeless. Her thoughts are disrupted as Joseph enters the room, “how do I look?!” He proudly asks, “spectacular” Abby replies with a smile.

The walk to school is cold, long and tedious and Joseph has a million questions along the way, “where do you think ants sleep, mummy?” He asks. Abby’s mind is elsewhere as she responds with a confusing answer involving rocks. Joseph seems satisfied so she doesn’t delve deeper.

School drop off was easier than usual, Joseph is generally somewhat emotional at drop off but today he was happy. Abby continued her journey to work, her limbs felt heavy, her mouth was dry, her head was dizzy and her hands were trembling, a park bench was only meters away as she rested herself down to breathe. Flashes past through her mind, bills, the notice to leave, her ex husband filing for sole custody of their child, Abbys mind spun wild, her vision was blurry as she heard voices speaking in ineligible audio, she rested her head into her hands and practiced her breathing, 10 deep breaths. Slowly, she regained herself and noticed In the difference a shimmer in the grass, she slowly approached the shimmer and discovered and small unique black book, she opened the book to find it empty, Abby returned to her sit and began flicking through the pages aimlessly, until she came across a page which read, ‘To the lucky occupant reading this page, my name is Phillip Jacob, I am dying, I have no family and I wish to pass on $20,000 to a deserving member of society, for me to agree to this, we must meet and a series of questions and demands MUST be met, if you have this book, you will meet me on the 25th July 2021, 11am at the Graman Park, I will be in at the northern table of the park in a grey suit’. Abbys heart sank, she checked the date, it was in fact the 25th of July, it was 10.30am and she was located 15mins from the location. Abby was already on probation at work, if she was another day late she would lose her job, but if this was a legitimate offer she could more than afford a new rental with time to find a new job...Abby heads straight to the park, sits herself on the northern seat and within one hour she is met by a man in a grey suit. “Abby?” He asks... “how did you know my name?” Abby replies. The man takes a seat and awkwardly positions himself before asking Abby if she had ever met her biological father. Abby informs the man that she never has...the man adjusts his suit, clears his throat and hands Abby a note, which reads... “my dear Abby, I apologise I was not there for your upbringing, your life, your journey as a mother, but I have watched you from afar as your father. Always too ashamed to introduce myself! You are an amazing mother to your boy as I watch you drop him off every morning and battle the transport to work. I’m sorry I’m not the father I should have been, you deserved more. But I am dying and my only wish is to see you and your boy comfortable and happy.” The man in the suit hands Abby a cheque for $20,000. “It’s not a lot, I know, but it’s all I have, I’m dying abby, and I won’t feel right leaving this earth without providing for you in some way. I love you, your son and your mother and always will, and please pass that on and I hope you all find happiness.” Reluctantly Abby accepts the cheque, she holds her dad for the first time in forever as he gently whispers “I’ve watched your school routine drop off for years, always yearning the courage to approach you and this way I felt I could repay you, I love you and Joseph Abby, I’m sorry this was the best I could do...