An Early Retirement
It was Friday, January 27, 2012, the day before my birthday. I was stuck at school, anxious for the day to be over so I can go and celebrate. But this was not only the day before my birthday. This year marked two years that my father has disappeared from my life. The reason to me was still unknown but at this point I had learned to accept it. Although, I already knew I would not be hearing from my father on my birthday, there still remained some hope and it burned inside of me.
There I was sitting in my lecture, occasionally dozing off. I looked at my phone to check the time and I see that I received a new e-mail. It stuck out in bold letters. The subject of the e-mail read, “My Retirement.” My stomach began turning as I felt the blood draining from my face. But there it was and inside that e-mail is some sort of writing that will bring all the emotions I was able to overcome right back to the table. I was not prepared for this day nor did I ever believe it would come. The day before my birthday? It could only mean that he wants to wish me the best. I hesitate to open this life changing experience. It was like opening back the door I had barricaded shut. His e-mail read:
“Well everything comes to an end, so this is my retirement in your life. I hold no remembrance of your nature. Goodbye and good luck.” His words could not have been more cold or hateful. They were sharp and straight to the point. They gripped my heart and ripped it into a million pieces. But I had to keep it together, especially in a lecture filled with more than 100 students. My next thought was to run out. And that I did. The only person I could think to call was my best friend, my mother. I could not bring the words to come out my mouth. I trembled and as I could finally form some sort of sound, I broke.
On July 27, The 2012 Summer Olympics in London has begun. The olympics correlates with my story because these athletes train to be strong, to win, and mainly to lose. They accept when they have failed and continue to better themselves. Regardless of their win or their loss they remain a symbol in the eyes of millions that are watching. I could not let this e-mail bring me down, especially the day before my birthday.
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