Chapter 8: Acceptance

The sun soon rises over the buildings in the distance, the next day is finally here.

"Rise and shine," a males voice says as the curtains in front of my room get pulled to the side.

"Morning to you too," I reply back, looking over at the doctor who has been there with me during this whole thing.

"One of the attendees said you wanted your family to come meet you today, correct?" he asks, opening the curtains to the window as he does. I give a soft nod.

"Then they will be here around four in the afternoon."

"Did you already call them?"

He nods, "That I did; your mother, wife, kids, everyone that you've told me of." I couldn't help but smile, having everyone here.

"I'm sorry," he says with a soft smile to me. He knows what's happening soon.

"No need to be sorry," I say, shifting around to get comfy in the bed, "you helped all you could."

"I will leave you to your family when they get here." Once all was said and checked up on, he left the room, closing the curtains behind him as he went.

All I can do now is sit back and watch T.V., watching the time tick by as I wait, having the occasional check-up from the doctor and nurses. What all happened? How did all of this come to be? Whatever led to all of this, I've lived a good life. I can't complain.

"Hey there," The sudden voice broke my deep thinking as I took a glance up at the clock. It was only one o'clock. I look over at the curtains and see a familiar elderly face.

"Feeling well?" he asks with a light smile to his face.

"Benral," I say to myself, "been a few months, hasn't it?"

"It has," he replies, walking into the room with me, "I heard the news from your wife and wanted to see how you're holding up."

"I'm doing alright," I lie, smiling softly, "Still keeping the workplace lively?"

"As alive as I could," he says with a chuckle, "the place is still as dull as the day you left."

"Did you quit?"

"I retired," he says, "I worked long enough in that place."

"You deserve it." After hearing that, he smiles a little more. Benral walks over and leaves a small wrapped box on my lap, "This is for you, as a gift from a coworker to another. Open it after I leave, would you?"

"I will."

Bernal clears his throat, "I have to get going now." He pats my shoulder with a smile, "I hope to see you soon. Remember, keep a smile." Once all was said, he waves at me and turns around, walking out of the room for the rest of the day.

I glance down at the gift he left me and slowly start to open it up. I take the lid off and see a neatly folded piece of paper. I pick it up and unfold it, reading what was all on it.

"Not all life needs to be sunshine and rainbows to make it a good day. I try to do that at work, to make them smile or cheer up a little. I may be old, I may be a crazy old man, but I try to crack a smile every day. As you read this, I'm heading to my wife's grave for our anniversary. Her death changed me. I hope this clears up why I was trying to crack a smile. Try to smile and try to get better soon."

So that's why he always tried to bring a smile to the place. I look down to see something else written in another handwriting.

"I'm sorry for having to let you go. You've been a great worker for the company for the longest of times. Thank you for your time to the company and everyone else there. With great regards, we hope you do well. Signed, Jeff"

I glance over at the clock, reading three-thirty. All of them should be coming very soon. I continue to wait, watching the clock tick slowly. Soon enough, my son comes walking in, bringing his kiddo, which soon followed with my wife too.

"Hey dad," he greets me, walking over and giving me a hug.

"Where's mom?" I ask, looking over to him, then my wife.

"Traffic is being a pain," my wife says, shaking her head. I nod and lean my head back. "She'll still make it," she reassures me with a smile.

"Thank you, dear, for this life," I say, closing my eyes slightly, feeling tired.

"Your time draws near," an echoing voice says. I glance around at everyone, seeing who said that, but none of them looked like they've said anything.

"Is that your daughter?" I ask my son, seeing her in his arms.

He nods, "Her name's Aarunia Clay."

"What a lovely name." After a few moments, mother comes walking in, sounding out of breath.

"These drivers, I swear," she says, sounding a bit agitated before turning to look at me, "oh you look as brittle as me."

"What kind words," I say, chuckling weakly.

"You're sounding as bad as your dad," she jokes, trying to lighten the mood.

"Why did you call us here?" my son asks, kneeling right beside my bed.

"To thank you all," I say with a weak smile, "for this nice life I was given."

"You make it sound like you're going to die," mom comments with a more off chuckle, "Come on kiddo, don't give your mother the worries." She walks over and rubs my shoulder lightly. "I know it seems to be getting worse, but you've been a strong kid since day one, you can push through this."

I smile slightly at her, "Even the strongest fall someday, you know that. That's how dad went." With a more of a sad smile, she nods.

"Dear," I say, looking over to my wife. She walks over, rubbing her palm on my forehead, "please make sure mom doesn't do anything to-"

"You're not dying," she interrupts, seeing her trying to hold back tears.

"You know I am, it's alright."

"I don't want to think about it," she says in a huff.

"You don't have to," I say, reassuring her, "Even if I leave, I'm still with you in heart, dear." I smile softly at her. As tears roll down her eyes, she gives me a tight hug. It felt warm, like I've finally met my end. I feel happy, seeing everyone one last time; Benral, my wife, John… mom. I gaze at all of them again and back at my mom. I give her a weak smile as the world around me turned dark.

Once more, I'm stuck in this dark room, this dream. That same figure next to that same door, but something felt different.

"Your time has reached its path," the figure echoes, looking down at me.

"It's still weird to hear you speak," I say, admittedly.

"We all find the weird things out of everyday life," the figure echoes once more, "but for you, to now, is where you move on."

"I don't want to go," I say, sounding sad in tone.

"You will continue to be here, through thought and mind." I didn't feel sad nor fearful about this whole ordeal.

"Look around," the figure echoes, motioning its slender hands at the surrounding area, no white spots in sight, "there is nothing left to save. You are in pain, it is consuming your mind. Would you really like to spend time with your loved ones while in pain and suffering as your mind continues to be eaten up? No one would ever wish that."

"You're right," I sigh, looking at the door right next to it.

"Through here," it says, motioning to the door, "is where you may lay rest, where you may soon meet the friends and the ones you love once more."

"Is that why this was always here?"

"It has waited patiently for when you finally wish to rest." With a moment of hesitation, I walk over, now standing in front of the door. I slowly go to grab at the knob of the door, soon hearing the echoes of voices all around him.

"Wake up!"

"Don't you die, don't you die!"

"Doctor!"

"Please don't go…."

They all sounded so familiar, yet, I couldn't remember who they were from anymore. I turn the knob, opening the door, coming face to face with a pure white bloom. I couldn't see what was through it, but that was the only place I could go now.

The figure looked to shrink down in size, coming to be the same height as me, but a little taller by a few feet. It slowly wraps its slender arm around the back of my neck as its white body faded away, looking more human than whatever it once was.

"You will get to see mom and the others soon," the figure says, now having a deeper tone in voice, like that of a grown man. I look over at the figure fully now, finally seeing a face that looked so familiar. Before I could fully see what it was, the figure fully vanished. With a sigh, I glance around the room one last time, continuing to hear the echoing cries of voices. With a full clear mind in my head, I walk through the door, easing through the light. It's finally over. The pain is gone. Peace is what remains. The memories of the loved ones, the life I live, flow through the door. I feel… happy.