Memory Lapse

I was sitting on the park bench with my daughter Mary, watching my grandchildren play. The sun is shining down on us, casting a warm glow over the entire park. It was one of those in-the-moment days, where you’re acutely aware and grateful for everything that surrounds you. The smell of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers, the distant laughter of children playing. The joyous moments in our life that make us think “This is what life is all about”.

I couldn’t help but feel proud of my grandkids, of myself, and especially of Mary. She hasn’t had it easy all her life and Lord knows I wasn’t always the greatest role model. I feel a sense of happiness and love as I watch my grandchildren run around and play, their laughter infectious. Despite the life that I’ve lived, it seems like it has actually worked out.

Suddenly, my attention is caught by a figure across the field. He’s a well-dressed man in a black suit with his head down, just standing by the tree line. My first instinct is to be suspicious of him, but for some reason, I feel comfortable.

Mary is speaking to me but I have her tuned out, the kids are playing, but I have them tuned out. All I can hear is this man whistling, and I knew the song. It was a vaguely familiar tune from my childhood that I couldn’t place. Suddenly, the man looks up and makes direct eye contact with me, my heart nearly skips a beat. I could tell right away it was my father, and that he was whistling the same tune he used to whistle to me before bed. The only thing is, my father has been dead for 38 years

My father stopped whistling, he put his finger to his lips. Everything went silent. All I could hear was my own heart beating. The man walked into the tree line and disappeared, as if he had never been there. I heard an unfamiliar voice say “Dad?”

I looked back over to find a woman sitting next to me that I definitely did not know. Looking around the park, I realized that I don’t have any idea where I am. A wave of fear and desperation washed over me. I looked around frantically, searching for something familiar, but everything was unfamiliar. I didn’t recognize anything around me.

The lady next to me took my hand and held it in hers. She gazed into my eyes with the utmost sincerity, but didn’t say a word. I began to feel a sense of loss and confusion sweep me off my feet. We both began to cry. She told me that I’m going to be alright and that she loves me. We sat there for awhile.

I began to take in the moment. The sun beaming down, it was truly a beautiful day. The flowers were in full bloom and the park had just been cut. I have always loved the smell of cut grass for some reason.

I looked over, and to my amazement, my daughter Mary was with me. I must have been so in my head that I completely forgot! I smiled at her and then looked at the tree line. I began to whistle a tune that my father used to whistle to me.

I said to myself “I hope I never forget this day at the park.”

If you like these short stories and would like to read more of them, please give me a follow! If you would like to give a topic to make a short story about, please feel free to comment below! I also could use as much feedback as possible!