Father's Farewell

From: Calef (calefjo@hotmail.com)
Story type: Ghost
Location: Chesterfield, New Hampshire
Source: Form Submission

Dreams are important to me. Being a twin, they've played a key roll in my relationship with my brother. This is particularly true during times of intense stress. When he was involved in an automobile mishap during a snowstorm, my dreams revealed his experience. I've learned to rely on them as a sign of current events or of things to come. My father died of a degenerative brain disorder called Pick's Disease. It's genetic. It's irreversible, and it'll kill you every time. If you have it, you'd better begin enjoying sanity while it lasts. I was with my dad the night he died. He'd lost the ability to speak by then. But he was still physically strong and very restless. My mom and I were with him in the evening, trying to encourage him to sleep. The nursing staff sedated him eventually, and suggested we head home to get some rest. He died a short time later, without his family nearby. When the hospital called, we went back. Sitting with his body, I wondered if he knew what was coming that night. Finally I had the chance to sleep early the next morning. I dreamt he was sitting with me as I had sat with him. Only, he wasn't going away. That was seven years ago, and his sitting image is still with me. During fitful dreams I see him sitting near by, silently. Weather it's a ghost or not is not important to me. The image comforts me, and that seems most important.