A Simple Allegory

[Tanuki_Miyazaki]

On December thirteenth, Tom lay in a hospital bed. He was sixty three years of age. Signs of a harsh winter to come were already apparent, and the weather had already taken its toll. His body, once strong, began to weaken. His breath came hard, his chest sore.

Besides him, his wife and son sat. They have been there for hours, taking vigil besides him. He looked upon them one last time that night, before closing those heavy eyelids and succumbing to sleep. Tom had not dreamt since he was young, or at least did not remember any such times. His dream was strange, yet somehow familiar.

It was he, not in the bed, but in the chair, watching his own father lay in the hospital bed. He looked upon his father, sadden by the knowledge that his dad did not have long to live. He gripped his father’s hand once and said goodbye before departing. He glanced to his father one last time before leaving. He had a game, and his friends were all counting on him. Surely, they were more important then his father. So he left to join them.

So much fun did he have. Not a care in the world. He was a young man, and college was soon approaching. Being popular and having fun was all that mattered. Months past as his father grew sicker, but never once did he return. He did not want to think about it, nor cared about it. His own happiness was what mattered.

As college came, Tom worked hard, going to class, and studying, but still had fun. He partied between papers and managed to keep up with his education. However, word came that his father had passed away. The funeral was to be held soon, but he was too busy to notice. Lost in his own goals, his ambitions, and desires, his father would only get in the way.

Tom was a busy man now, whose business schedule filled most of his day. He never had time to go to his father’s grave, to pay respect. He ignored his father, not caring if he was gone. Business was far too important for him. He worked hard to get where he was without his father. Where was he to help? Gone, his father left.

But now those days are far-gone. He lay upon his own sick bed with only a memory of moments past. He looked upon the face of his own son as he walked away, feeling regret. As his eyes began to slowly grow heavy, all he could think about was his father. His father, the one that had left him. But wait, how could he leave when he was always there? It was Tom who walked away, ignoring his father. One who loved him, and cared for him, yet so easily set aside. Why was it only now, at his last moment, could he think about that? Would his father forgive him? Did he deserve forgiveness?

As his eyes closed, tears slowly crept from them. Tom softly whispered for forgiveness, wishing in his last moment that he would had always remembered his father. Why did he ignore his father? Why did he not set any time for him? Why did he only care about himself? Darkness came gently with silent hope that there would be forgiveness.