Jeff nodded, then wept. Silently at first, then
louder.
For a second, I felt pity. A moment to mourn
the past.
Then I calmly said, “If you want to see Lily,
we can arrange that. Nothing more.”
“”
I checked the time. “Lily’s almost out of
school. I need to pick her up.‘
Jeff could only nod.
33
Outside the cafe, roses bloomed and
withered.
Flowers have no choice; people do.
Don’t be a withered rose. Stay passionate,
awake.
Epilogue 1
Jeff died; his parents didn’t tell Lily or me. Lily was too young; seeing her father die would scar her.
As for me… Jeff thought I wouldn’t want to see him, or that I’d refuse to come, so he didn’t tell me.
His conscience finally kicked in at the last
minute.
His mother came to me later. “Jeff went to
the street across from the preschool every
day, to watch you and Lily. When he couldn’t
walk, his father pushed his wheelchair…”
<
I knew. I’d seen him on the first day.
I used to park at the school entrance. Later, I parked further away, walking with Lily.
Lily asked, “Mommy, are we exercising?”
I didn’t tell her it was so Jeff could see her.
He was a bad husband and father.
But he was dying; I allowed him to see Lily, as
long as it didn’t disturb us.
The more he saw, the more he regretted.
Maybe then he understood why I became sick
when he took Lily.
But he understood too late.
His mother asked if I still hated Jeff.
“To leave more for Lily, he stopped
treatment, using painkillers. As parents, you should understand… watching him suffer,
dying… it was agonizing…”
I understand, but it doesn’t matter.
If I were their daughter, would they have
cared when Jeff hurt me?
I barely see my parents; I don’t need to see
them.
“If you want to see Lily, I won’t stop you.”
That was my final mercy.
