❝ The ones you love; will leave you one day ❞

. . . .

The sun rays are peaking beneath the shadow of the grey clouds. The soft clouds are shying away, and the morning moor is in a jolly mood today.

Another day filled with laughter, chaos - and the bridling sounds are getting off now, which is a sign of the day starting.

And the city of Albany is feeling alive now. As usual, the kids of this neighbourhood never forget, 'it's time to play when it's a shiny day.'

Parker, Milly, Greg, Fay, Aaron- they're best friends of life, ever since they have been here in this area; they have been inseparable. From playing together, they go to the same school as well.

As today the sun is showing up with its uttermost blessing, means there's no trace of raining today. So yay for them! They were dying to play baseball in the field of Diltons' neighbourhood.

It's a small playground, as no one really stays to forbid them. Just a small street beside the fence of Uncle George.

George Dilton, 89 years old - lives in this neighbourhood alone. Where's his family, no one really knows. His wife died in the early 21st century. Ever since that he has been living alone there.

People say his children are settled down somewhere else. Anyways, the gang of kids - decided to play in that playground which is near George's garden.

Their parents are off to work today, so they're chilling. With the approval of their parents, they came here to play.

Aaron decides to bat, as he is really good at that. Fay will be balling, and Parker as the wicket - keeper. And Milly & Greg will be at the scoreboard.

Their playing was really going well, with the drops of sweat yet there's no less of enthusiasm. Until Parker hit the ball in the air. It's swinging so fast - and boom! It landed in the garden of George. They are really afraid of George's reaction.

No doubt, He is a gentleman but he gets picky when it comes to his precious jewel aka the plants of his garden. As the ball landed so rapidly there, the kids are sure they've broken some branches or plants there.

Nevertheless Parker is the one who broke the eerie atmosphere, as they were in doubt who should go to patch the ball. He assured his friends that he would go as he is the eldest among them.

Parker hesitantly walks there and finally at the porch of his garden, he notices that the ball is in the corner - as he was about to take the ball, the ajar door is noticed by him.

Mr. George never lets his door open so absently; just like that, Parker thought. Thus, he decides to peek through the door. He slowly opens the door, and sees that the curtains are closed but the little sun rays are coming through its fabric. And this light kind of illuminates the room.

As he slowly walks by, the next scenery takes his breath away. George is lying unconscious there. He gets dumbfounded for a few seconds. After regaining his posture, he walks up there and starts to call by his name,"Uncle George, wake up! Please wake up, what happened to you?"

But his pleading goes unheard, after several attempts and without any clue what to do - he called his friends here. They all reunited & thought it would be best to call their parents. Long story short, their parents took George to hospital. They knew George for a long time and they didn't really go through this matter.

It was too late to find out for the kids, unconscious George there. The doctors declared him dead. He had a massive heart attack as a patient of coronary heart disease; he had blocks in his heart before. As the sudden attack occurred, there's a blockage in blood flow. If anyone was present with him at that time, maybe he could've saved by reaching the hospital earlier.

But Alas! Fate has already decided his end.

━━━━━━

On 1967, At Albany -

Today is a happy day for George Dilton. He is finally marrying the love of his life. It wasn't love at first sight. It was the days of ups & downs which brought George & Melina close together. Melina is the girl who's put through everything in George's life. And of course, there couldn't be a better partner than him.

The day Melina has put her feet at his doorstep, he knows they're gonna last forever.

In 1970, they welcomed their first born & named him Luke, soon after his siblings came as well. Years passed by, though there were days of downs, but they didn't have any less happiness in their family.

As days passed, little Luke grew up & had his own family. Mayhaps in this family, Melina & George had no place but they're happy in their own home, Albany.

On a fine evening, at the hour of crimson-red, the sun is slowly fading away or more like it has to be present in another dawn - George is sitting on his armchair. It's his favourite time in the day. No chaos, no buzzing sound, only the birds are slowly taking place in their nest.

Melina has come & sat by her husband; on the chair. She can't help but ask, "What are you thinking?"

"Nothing, just thinking about our olden days Mel. Time has its own wings. It feels like yesterday when you came here to this house. Now it's the same hour; only our circumstances have changed," George murmured.

"Our children are living their happy life yet we are here alone, in this country side. How ironic it is!"

"Oh, George! Maybe that's how cruel fate is. It's alright as long we are together, isn't it enough?" Melina whispered.

"Of course, darling!"

Ever since that true bouncer, until like that evening; there's a call for Melina from the upwards. It's her time to go. George & Melina's journey ended there. It's the fall when nature was biding adiós; and our Melina. And George was spending his last days with her memories.

Y Melina siempre vivirá en su corazón.
(and Melina will always reside in his heart)

━━━━━━

Present day at the graveyard -

With no traces of George's children, Andrew Hiders tried his best to call upon them to inform them about their father's condition. But his efforts go in vain as there's no clue of them on the other line.

Thus, they decided to bury him by themselves. Thou' Children aren't allowed here but still Parker was being persistent here to come by. As he found him lying unconsciously on the floor - maybe he wanted to see George for the last time.

Andrew couldn't say no to him, as a result little Parker is here with his father today. As like nature got the hint of George's demise as well. There is no shiny sun anymore. The dreadlock clouds have filled in; and the little droplets of water are falling down.

They were in a hurry, so the umbrella was the least concern for them. As like they've assembled here to bid George for the last time, and the grey clouds have gathered as well.

Black is the motion of no colours, maybe that's why people wear black in the funeral; Parker thought. There are hundreds of thoughts in mind. But he couldn't ask his father, as they were busy burying him.

After a while, they all said something about him; how he was a good man & gentleman. The whole neighbourhood would be empty without him. There's a tear in the left corner of Andrew too.

It's started to drizzle now, the little droplets of water are falling down on their face. It's the tears or the downfall of nature. Maybe both. As they were walking away from there, Parker finally asked Andrew, "Dad, would it be the same for us too, Like Uncle George?"

Andrew was baffled with his question. After noticing the confusing expression, Parker further explained, "I mean, I know we are gonna leave the world one day. It's the rule of nature. Wouldn't there be anyone with us in our last moments?"

Andrew has no answers for it. Only time can tell, if there wouldn't be anyone with us. But certainly Parker's question has awakened a hidden feeling of him.

He thought about his father today. Few hours ago, when there's no hint of George's children; he felt angry with them. How can they leave their parents alone like that? But now - when he thinks deeply, he realises one thing, he is no different from them.

He left his father too and he couldn't be there in his last moments. It's true when we, children grew up - we often left many things behind with our childhood. And our parents are one of them.

Work, and our own family consumed our time so roughly that we forget that there's someone waiting for us. Andrew couldn't be there for his father but he makes a mental note to call his mother today. He isn't gonna repeat his mistakes.

As for now, he just raffles Parker's hair & smiles at him. "No, dear. Even though our loved ones leave us, remember they always leave something for us to remember them," Andrew said to his son.

As the father - son duo is slowly walking away, the pitter patter sound is buzzing around & George is finally sleeping beside his beloved wife.

The rain is washing away the unknown liveliness, but George & Melina are finally at peace in the midst of drizzling.

❝ El verdadero amor siempre encuentra la manera de estar juntos. ❞

━━━━━━━━━━

Any thoughts? :))