I miss you and love you everyday, Daddy.
I still can't believe that a year ago, the man in my life, my hero took his last breath and walked on to a better world.
If someone told me early last year that by the end of 2008, I would'nt get to hear my Dad's laugh or get to hug him again, I would have just shook my head and wagged my finger at the possibility.
When we were in the hospital, there was one night when I couldn't sleep so I just settled myself on the couch and read a book. I heard my Dad moving in bed so I shifted up to check on him and there he was, sitting up, glasses on, reading a book as well.
"Hi Daddy."
"Hi Kadick, can't sleep?"
"No, what about you? Go to sleep na, get some rest."
"I've been sleeping the whole day eh. You should get some rest. I know you're tired."
I remember thinking how unfailingly kind he was, how much he put others ahead all the time. Who, despite their pain and suffering would think about the needs of someone else? My Dad, that's who.
It's unbelievable how much he went through in his life and how little I knew about them. Of course, I remember all the stories but I had no idea that there were still more to find out. His achievements, his generosity, his kindness, his honesty can't be compared. And the fact that he never showed them off makes them even more special.
A year ago, I was getting ready to go to the hospital and as I came back from the bathroom, I saw missed calls from the hospital phone. Thinking it was the usual, "Where are you" questions, I didn't call back and resumed to dressing up as fast as I could.
Then, my phone rang again.
"Your Dad is gone. Your Dad is gone." Our helper, Erica repeated hysterically.
I felt the wind knocked out of me as I fell on my chair.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" I cried out in panic.
"Just come here. Your Dad is gone. Your Dad is gone."
Then she hung up.
