Sealed Envelope 5/10/07
The envelope was yellowed with age. It had not seen the light of day in many years; too many years. The bitterness and anger that made him lock the envelope away forty years ago, still occupied a far too large portion of his soul.
“Gramps? Are you ok?” The tiny voice came from the darkness outside of his room.
“Huh? Oh sure darlin’. Just very tired. Shouldn’t you be in bed?”
“I couldn’t sleep. I miss Grams.”
“I know you do honey. I do to.”
Tess came into the room and sat down on the bed next to him. She could see from moonlight that filtered through the lacy curtains, that he was holding a piece of paper. “What’s that Gramps?”
“Oh this…it’s just a letter,” he replied, his eyes burning and tired enough that they required some force to refocus on the envelope.
“It looks very old. Who is it from?”
“It’s a letter…from my daddy”
Really? You mean my great Gramps?”
“Yep. He was a rodeo rider you know.” The expression in his voice was blankly flat, but the little girl wouldn’t have known the difference.
“You told us. What does the letter say Gramps?”
“I dunno l’il darlin’. I never did read it.”
“Gramps!” Tess was as shocked as any eight year old girl should be. A light flickered on outside the room, and the door opened slightly more.
“Tessie? Are you bothering Gramps?” His daughter stepped just inside the door.
“She’s ok, but I am tired I think I need to rest now, ok darlin’?”
“Sure Gramps.” The small girl pecked him on the cheek, and left the room.
“Dad?” He knew his daughter was concerned, probably overly so, but he stopped her.
“Baby girl, I’m fine. It’s not like we didn’t know this was comin’ now…”
“I know daddy, but it must be hard for you.”
“It is, but it’s a relief too. She’s happy and safe and healthy now.”
“Ok…well…if you need anything, just come and get me or Rick.”
“Yes ma’am.” He knew that response would draw that smile that made his soul sing, even if he couldn’t see it. She left him, closing the door quietly behind her. When he was sure to be alone, he slid over to the nightstand and switched the bedside light on. Drawing in as deep a breath as he dared, he slid his finger under the envelope flap, the glue old and cracking, making the opening clean. He sat quite still while he read. The paper as fragile as the content. When he was done, he sat for a long while, the letter resting on his lap. He had no strong emotional reaction one way or another; or so he thought. With care, He folded the paper, placed it back into the envelope, and gently laid it on the nightstand, beside the picture of his wife.
“Genevieve, I wish you had known him,” he said out loud to no one. He swung his legs up onto the bed, and reclined, his head finding comfort in the clean and soft linens his daughter had put on the bed. He felt himself begin the slide into sleep, and was surprised that the last words of his father were running through his head.
“There are so many things that I wish I could tell you. Maybe one day I’ll get the chance. I need you to know, that just because your mama and I ain’t living together anymore, doesn’t mean I don’t love you more than anything in my life. You will always have me, and I will always be there for you. If you can find even half of the love that I have in my life, you will be a lucky man. I love you son.”
As the words rolled through his mind like a lighted marquee on a movie theater, Robert Twist fell into a safe and deep sleep.
657 words
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