This story takes place in a forest, the sunrays invading right trough the trees, piercing through the leaves, touching my skin. The sun was warm, everything was calm, you could hear a few little steps, cracking the leaves and sticks that were on the ground, birds singing some melody that was already familiar to me. If I talked, I could almost hear an eco. I lived there, in a small cabin built in this pretty clearing a few minutes fromm were I was exacly. I was... between 5 or 7 when It happend. When I had to run.

This day, I remember my mom screaming my name, probably from the balcony of the cabin. I remember my blood freezing, and the breath caught in my through, my mind running, asking what could I have done this time "did I forgot to clean something? Did she found my hidden money? Did she ..." I just shook my head and decided to wait a little more before going back "home", I was gonna get a beating anyway, what's the point in rushing? 

Once more, I climbed the highest tree that I found, my favorite tree at that time, and looked in the horizon as the sun sets, seeing the sky fill itself with the most unic colors I have ever seen before the slumber covers it all, I watched as the city, that was "close" to the forest, lit up. It was my favorite time of the day, let my old teddy bear in the wooden bench, a log actually, and just climb that tree, sit in my favorite branch and enjoy the view.

After I was done procrastinating going back home, I went down, grabbed my teddy for my dear life and walked slowly towards home. When I got there my mom didn't beat me, she just said that my father was waiting for me. I rushed to his room, heart in hand, tears building up and a indiscrible pain in my throuh pleading me to finally cry. When I got there my heart stoped, my dad was looking horribly pale, and thin, with big dark circles around his eyes, that face full of life that was once there, the charming smile that held his cheeks full of that beautiful color, it was all gone, and it was worse then when I left that morning, he was loosing the life in his eyes.  I aproched him very carefully, he smiles at me, and I smile back as forcefully as I could. I sit by his side, on a chair that looked like it was waiting for me.

"Hey buddy", he talked as sweetly as he could, even though his voice was so hoarse. "I have to be honest with you buddy...", his smile droping and his voice beginning to fade. "You know I've been really sick, right buddy?", he waited for my answer, I shook my head in agreement. "I know I told you I was gonna get better soon, but... This sickness seem to just don't go away" he paused, drunk some water and continued. "You are seeing how much I've been suffering, right bud? I know you're not blind. I'm also not blind, I see you suffering. I'm sorry I can't protect you, and I know this is my fault baby, I really know, and I'm soooo sorry. Can you forgive me? For not protecting you enough?", he was in tears, and so was I. 

It was clearly marked in my heart the pain of that day. I don't think there's is any other moment in my life that hurt me more than this. It was like I had being shot and cut in the same place. Remebering this, now I know that he was referring not only to the pain that my mom caused me physicaly, but also my mental pain, my mom starting to hate me, my father, my hero, dying and nobody could do a single thing about that, the pain of having to smile or pretend that I wasn't seeing it, the pain of not having hope, almost.

"So buddy, I waited all this long just to make you a question." I held my head up, looked in his eyes as he said "Can you let me rest?", my heart stopped once more. "I'm tired buddy, this old man needs some rest. It hurts soooo much, can you please let me rest? I will be waiting for you there." his voice was almost gone. I couldn't say no. There was no way to keep my father in pain.

"That's okay pa, you can rest away from pain. I sorry for making you wait." this words left my mouth like they were made of blades, cutting their way out.

"Thank you buddy, can you pray with me one last time?" he said weakly holding his hands. We prayed, eyes closed, heart in pouring all it had out. "One last thing, you don't need to stay here. Run my child, runaway for your freedom. Be happy. Please. All I want in my life is to see you happy.", he put my head in his chest, heart beating so slow it could stop at any moment. "And forgive your mom, please" and it stopped.

I cried and cried, his hands warm from my touch and the blanket, eyes closed as if he was sleeping peacefully, and for my surprise, when I lifted my head, he was carrying a profound smile.