A Home with my Grandfather

I felt so guilty that I cannot visit him for at least once a year. I became too busy working on my career and building a name in the medical field. I am busy with medical missions all over the country, but I never had a time to have a medical mission with my own hometown. No words came out on my mouth as I held his hands and put it on my face and I closed my eyes. "Child, do not feel guilty about it." My Grandfather told me. I was dumbfounded and asked him, "How did you know?" He softly chuckled and said, "Because, I love you." I smiled to him.

"Can you please call your mother? I need to give something to you." My Grandfather told me. As I went out of his room. "Wait!" My Grandfather told me, "Tell your mother that this is the right time. She already know what I am talking about." I was puzzled while looking for my Mother throughout the entire house. Then, I saw her on the kitchen preparing our lunch. "Mother." as I called her attention, "Grandfather is asking for something and I do not know what it is. But he told me to tell you that it is the right time." My Mother smiled and said, "I'll be there in a minute.

Go back to you Grandfather's room." I went back to my Grandfather's room and I saw my Grandfather's eyes. I go to him immediately and checked his pulse. He laugh softly and said, "This is not yet my time young lad." I smiled and kissed him on his forehead. My mother went to the room with a small treasure box on her hand. "Claridad" My Grandfather called. "Did you see it?" He asked my Mother. "Yes, Papa. Here it is." My Mother gave a small treasure box. I would say that it is very vintage, an antique box I assumed.

"My son, this is the moment that I have been waiting for." My Grandfather told me while dusting off the little box. "Grandfather, what is that box?" I asked him while I pulled the chair and sit beside him. I saw my Mother and she smiled at me. "This is our family heirloom. Our priceless possession, this box was passed on from generation to generation." My Grandfather explained. The treasure box is a heart shaped jewelry box made of pure gold and silver. It is covered with diamonds, rubies and a big stone of sapphire at the middle of it. Even though that is old, it was well maintained. "Grandfather, how come I... I... I haven't seen this?" I asked him while looking at the precious box. "The reason is because I am waiting for the right time to give it you and soon you will give it to your son and passed it on your grandson." My Grandfather explained while looking at the window at the plaza.

"Do you still have the crucifix necklace that I gave you on your birthday?" he asked me. "Yes Grandfather. Actually, I am always wearing it." I told him excitedly. "Even though that we are apart, you are always close to my heart." I added. "You need to use the necklace that I gave you to open this box." He instructed me. I pull out the necklace out of my shirt that my Grandfather gave me. I inserted it on the keyhole and it opened. I saw a small piece of parchment paper which if I am not mistaken it was written thousands of years. "It's a map, Grandfather?" I asked him with confusion. "Yes my son, it is a map." he replied. "This map belongs to our family since 17th century. In my younger years, I was able to visit it." he added. "How was your trip?" I asked him with curiosity. "You will know as soon as you visited it." he answered me while smiling at my Mother.

I get my phone inside my pocket and tried to search for the places. It seems that the internet unable to get some of the details. "Grandpa, these places does not exists?" I asked him. "You see my boy, these places do not exists as sometimes we do not want to believe. For you to be able to find these places, find it using your heart." My Grandfather explained. I scratched my head as I do not have any idea what he was talking about. My Grandfather laugh at me and said, "My child, this journey is not easy as you think as it is. It will require courage, wisdom and faith. If you are ready to take the journey bring those three requirements for you to have a successful journey." he explained. "I will take the challenge, Grandpa." I told him with excitement. "I have to go to my room now, Grandpa and fix my stuff." I added. "Go my boy, see you later in lunch." I kissed his forehead. Before I leave my Grandfather's room, My Mother asked my Grandfather. "Papa, do you think he can make it?" "Claridad, have faith in your son. He needs that to see how life is so beautiful." My Grandfather explained to my Mother. "I'll go and set the lunch for us, Papa." My mother said and we both get out at my Grandfather's room and closed the door gently.

I went to my old room and nothing was changed. I can still see my old toys. The kite that we used to play when I was kid with my Grandfather. The pillows that I used to bring at my Grandfather's room every time there's a thunder. The blankets that I used to bring in my tree house and my favorite robot that my father gave me. I saw my old picture at the bedside table. Our family picture. The picture where me, grandma, grandpa, my father and mother in the garden during our picnic time. The memorable moment before my father left us to work abroad. Overall, nothing has changed on my room. I can still smell the fragrance of the old wood and breeze of the fresh air.

While looking at my old stuff, one of our servants knocked at my door and panting. "Doc, there's something wrong with your grandfather!" she told me. So I hurriedly get my stethoscope and went to his room. I saw my Mother crying and very uneasy. I put my stethoscope to feel the heartbeat. No heartbeat that I can hear. I saw my watch and said to my Mother, "Time of death, 10:55 AM." I saw my Mother crying while hugging my Grandfather. I am trying to be strong for her. After few minutes, I gave my Mother a glass of water and told her. "I will arrange his funeral, Mother." "Wait." she told me. "Here are the papers that you need."

I was able to arrange it and the funeral parlor picked up the body of my Grandfather after an hour. My mother and I had a late lunch. "You must be tired, you should eat well." She told me while putting more rice and chicken adobo. Our favorite menu that my Grandfather and I loved to eat. While eating, I told my Mother, "Mother, I already arranged the chapel where we can held a wake for Grandpa." "I understand my son, but your Grandfather wants to held his wake here in our house." "I understand, Mother. But it will be a hassle for us especially that a lot of people will pay respect to him." I insisted. "I get your point my son, but it is your grandfather's last wish, let's respect it." "I understand, Mother." "Finish your lunch and soon we will be busy preparing your Grandfather's wake. I'll go to the market so that we can prepare foods for the people who will pay respect to your Grandfather." My Mother said. "Here's some of cash." I told her while I pull out my wallet on my pocket. "It's okay. I still have some remaining cash from the last time you send me." My Mother said. We ate our lunch and we are busy preparing the living room for my grandfather's wake.