A Father's Love

Writing Exercise

Malcolm stood at the woodline and sighed, “Just walk, Malcolm…”

Exhausting his deepest breath, he began his reluctant march.

It had been fourteen years since he’d taken this path. Fourteen years since he followed his father to lay his mother six feet down. Now, the couple lay side by side in the Winslow family cemetery nestled in the southern pines.

Malcom wished he’d been there. He didn’t mean to leave his father alone. He didn’t mean to put such distance between them. But little by little, his life left his father and family in the past.

All too present now, Malcom felt the trek was taking longer than he remembered.

“I guess it’s just been that long.”

Daylight was fading as Malcom found himself walking toward the setting sun. He paused, thinking himself too far gone.

“What a waste of time.”

He bowed his head to let out another sigh.

Just then a little flower presented itself by his boot. He couldn’t resist a smile and lifted the flower to the light.

After a moment, he lowered his eyes from the brilliant white petals and saw a wrought iron fence piercing the sky just over the next hill.

“Well, I must be here now but I do not remember that fence.”

Clasping the tiny bloom in his palm he pressed on.

“He must have built this just before he died. Oh! I wish I were here!”

In just a few yards Malcolm stood at the slightly open gate, staring straight into the cross guarding the entrance.

“Oh Lord….”

Malcolm stepped through the gate to see his father’s grave for the first time. The headstone staring back at him read:

Ezra “Zeke” Winslow

For this son of mine was dead and has come back to life.

He was lost, and now he has been found

Malcolm wept, “Thank you, Father.”

This story was prompted by my good friend

Scoot

a few weeks ago when he challenged writers to write about an unexpected fence.

I was initially going to keep this at 250 words but fiction has been a struggle for me lately so I just let this one ride. Clocked in at 310 words. Feels good to just get a small story out at this point.

Let me know what you think!