The Road w/ Anna Part 11
As they walked off stage hand in hand Ana’s father came up holding a dozen sunflowers in his arms as she quickly ran over to him.
She hugged him tightly before looking up at him with a smile on her face, “What are you doing here, dad? I thought you were back home working.”
He shook his head as he handed over the flowers, “The house was too quiet and I missed the both of you. I just couldn’t stand it so when Dmitri told me that you would be performing I knew that I had to come. Your mother would have been so proud and I think Jack would have been too.”
At that Ana looked back down at the flowers, “How is he doing by the way? Last time I saw him he was still asleep.”
Her father looked down sadly, “Not so good, sweetheart. The doctors think that it’s best that he leave tonight since they don’t have the proper equipment that would be able to help him for much longer. I’ve already spoken to his doctor back home and he thinks it would be best that Jack stays close to home. That means that staying the night won’t be an option so you’re just going to have to say your goodbyes quickly. Your brother needs you, Annie. You’re the only person that your brother will listen to right now.”
Ana nodded as she looked over her shoulder at Trent who nodded, “I want you to meet Trent first since I hope that you’ll be seeing more of him when we get back.”
They shook hands after their introductions were made and they headed back towards the hotel. As she packed she glanced over at where her father had set up all of Jacks’ things. She sighed as she walked over and picked up one of Jacks’ heavy sweaters that lay on top of his clothes. He called it one of his lucky ones at one point after she gave it to him for Christmas. It was worn out and faded over the years yet she tried to replace it but her brother wouldn’t allow her. He claimed that it would just be a sweater if he got another one from her. He love it because it was one of the first gifts she was able to give him with her own money before he got sick and it started to hang off him slightly.
She put it to her face and breathed in the reminisce of his cologne. No matter how many times she had washed it his scent always remained on it. That simple thought caused tears come to her eyes as she slowly folded it back into the suitcase. He was fading fast that much she knew but thinking about it only made her feel even more depressed than before. She had lost her mother years before and now her brother would be next. She made him proud and that was all that mattered to her right then for at least she did something for him to prove that she could do it.
She sat down on the bed holding a framed picture of them out near the caldera from their first night in Greece. Both of them happy and excited to be somewhere far from home. These were the memories she wanted to cherish most about her brother despite the bad. He had once called her the rock of the family but he had been wrong to call her such a thing for she had always envied him most. He had a free spirit that she always wished she could have for at least he never wasted a moment of it as she had with her own life. Now she decided to change all that for a par of her broke through that craved to live from before when she controlled every aspect of it. She was always making plans and following it step by step. It was time that she made something of herself that actually made a difference no matter how small it would be at the time just as long as she did something worthwhile.
Ana looked up at her notebook alongside her brothers’ canvases and saw one of his paintings that caught her eye. Underneath it was a letter addressed to her as she walked close to it. She immediately opened up the envelope to read the letter inside.
My dearest Annie,
I don’t know how long I have left but this is something that I can do while I’m still able. I thought you should read the letter our mother left behind for me to read when I was old enough to accept as well as understand her words. It’s the only thing I have that she ever gave me before I was brought into this world. I remember how you would always tell me these stories about her and my father. Even when you knew I didn’t want to have anything to do with the man who helped create me. Did you know that he was an artist just like me? Neither did I until I cane across one of his paintings at the gallery a couple of years ago.
He died of a broken heart some have told me who knew him well enough. He came to the hospital and held me after they told him that she had passed away. Dad told me that because he was there for her and not just me after all. Two men she loved most in this world were there for her and she didn’t even know the entire time. How can we live with ourselves knowing what we know now? After dad told him that he was to care for the both of us that was when my father left knowing that it was what she would have wanted. He was found dead in his studio two years later. It was even in a newspaper clipping that I found at the library. I’m so much like my father in a way but in others I’m more like you. You’ve raised me well, Annie. For that I’m so grateful to have a sister like you to look up to. We’ve never bickered or even hated each other for silly things that got in between us. We were just friends and that made life so much easier for me because of that.
I adore you and wish that you would live your life for once instead of always worrying about dad and me. We’re going to be okay because of what you’ve done for us and there’s a lot that you’ve done to make up for not having a mom around. When I heard that you were going to perform at the final I was so happy that you were doing something just for you. I’ve seen a whole side of you that was happier and not so strict on how to act. You ultimately became the girl I knew who was hiding underneath. I’m glad I got to see that for once in my life because that I know that you’ll be just fine once I finally kick the bucket. When I go promise me that you’ll sing at my funeral. Even though I’ll be in the ground I’ll always be around every time you sing. You’re the most beautiful girl I know that has a heart to match. I’ll never forget that and all you’ve done for me. I’m missing you already even though you’ll read this and start crying as much as I am right now. You’re the only one I’d ever know who will miss me most of all and so I say that I’ll miss you too without any regrets for the past. As mom would say I’ve lived one hell of a good life with the people I love most making it even better than before. I think I’ve said enough to last me a lifetime but you’re the only one I’d ever tell it to no matter what. I love you and I will miss you terribly. The only last advice I could ever give you is to just live. Live for me but most of all live for yourself. Life is too short to just waste it away because then you’ll only have regrets to look back on when your time comes.
Your loving brother,
Jack
Ana looked up from the letter as she took off the cover of one of the paintings to see a sunset with her looking up at it. A tear escaped her eye as she folded the letter back up and gently touched the painting. She looked over to the clock knowing that the help would pack away all of his things but she just didn’t want it to be the last time she ever saw this painting. She took up her suitcase before turning back to look at the room once more before walking out the door.
