Hazel’s life is completely turned upside down when she finds a hidden folder full of pictures on her father’s computer. Everything she believed to be true about her family is called into doubt as the photos disclose a startling reality about her mother’s passing. Hazel needs to question herself if she’s ready for the answers as she gets set to face her father.
“Honey, did you forget to give the plants some water?” I strolled into our comfortable living room and asked Ethan.
Grinning, Ethan looked up from his book. “Yes, I did, my darling. You are aware that I would remember your priceless plants.
I laughed, enjoying our shared existence to the fullest.
I had left my father’s house five years prior. At the age of twenty, I had a lot of aspirations and goals for the future. I didn’t get to spend much time with my mother because she died when I was just a baby. All I had of her were the pictures and anecdotes that Dad and I used to tell one other.
On my wedding day, I really missed her. Despite his best efforts, there were instances that could only be healed by a mother’s touch.
The joy that came with meeting and marrying Ethan was a new chapter in my life. Even though it was little, there was laughter and love in our house.
I murmured, settling into the couch next him, “There are moments when I can’t believe how happy we are.” “I love our life here, but I miss Dad because I know he must feel so alone sometimes.”
Ethan pulled me in by putting his arm around me. “Hazel, you can always go see him more frequently. He isn’t all that far.
I gave a nod. “I am aware. But occasionally, I do miss him a lot. I questioned, “I wonder what he’s doing now.” “Most likely playing around in the garage?”
Ethan chuckled. Most probable. He is passionate about his work.
We enjoyed our home’s tranquility as we sat there in cozy stillness for a while. We experienced ups and downs in our marriage, but we overcame them as a couple.
My phone rang the following morning when I was having a peaceful morning.
Dad was there.
“Hey, Dad,” I replied as I responded.
Could you please come over and assist with a few tasks, Hazel? “I have a lot on my plate at work, and I should clean the house,” he inquired.
Naturally, Dad. I said, “I’ll be there shortly.”
When he called and invited me to come over, I was overjoyed. To be honest, I was simply waiting for an excuse to go see him, and I had one now.
I arrived at my father’s house later that evening, a site that brought back a lot of childhood memories. As I walked inside, I heard the front door’s well-known creak.
I rolled up my sleeves and told myself, “Time to get to work.” Because Dad had done so much for me, I always felt obligated to aid him.
After dusting the living room and cleaning the kitchen, I realized I had an assignment for my supervisor.
Dad’s laptop, an older model but still working one, rested in the study’s corner. Since I knew he didn’t use a password, I activated it and started working.
My gaze strayed to his files as I continued to type.
There was a folder I was interested in. The term, “Memories,” sounded strange considering that Dad had never talked about taking digital pictures.
Inquisitive, I selected it.
I discovered another folder within with the name “Special Day.”
As my interest developed, I decided to open it.
My heart stopped when I witnessed what came next.
There were several pictures of my parents that showed them looking really content. However, the date on the pictures drew my eye. That was the day of my mom’s passing.
I mumbled, “That can’t be right,” as a rush of shock and uncertainty passed over me.
My father used to tell me that Mom passed away in the hospital following a protracted illness. However, these pictures showed them grinning, dancing, and enjoying themselves.
As I went through the pictures, they got more and more confusing. Rather of appearing seriously unwell, my mother was glowing. My father had a big smile on his face and happy, sparkling eyes.
“Why did he never inform me of this?” I questioned out loud, feeling a mixture of rage and grief rising within me.
I got the feeling that something had been withheld from me for all these years, and I felt deceived.
I reclined on the chair and tried to process everything. Why would Dad misreport Mom’s passing? What actually took place on that day?
My head was filled with questions, each one more pressing than the previous.
I turned off the computer and closed the folder, thinking to myself, “I need to talk to Dad.”
Hands shaking, I grabbed my phone and called Dad’s number.
“Hello, Hazel,” he said with a smile. “I apologize, sweetheart. Is taking care of this old man’s house too much work?”
I tried to remain calm as I said, “Dad, you need to come home right now.” “It is significant.”
“Is everything alright?” he worriedly enquired.
I answered, my voice shaking, “No, it’s not.” “On your computer, I discovered something. I must discuss it with you. Please return home.
There was a pause in conversation from the opposite party. Dad then said something, sounding earnest. “I will arrive as soon as possible. Give me twenty minutes.
“I appreciate it,” I said as I hung up the phone.
Feelings tumbling about me, I paced the living room. How was he able to hide this from me? What made him lie about Mom passing away?
As I waited, the minutes seemed like hours. I straightened the room in an attempt to divert my mind, but those pictures kept coming back to me. They were nonsensical. Mom looked very well and content.
At last, the sound of the front door opening reached my ears. Dad burst in, concern on his face.
“Hazel, what’s happening?” He approached me and questioned.
I inhaled deeply, attempting to control my feelings. “I discovered a folder containing pictures of you and your mother while using your computer to do an assignment for work. The day she passed away, these were taken. After a protracted illness, you always informed me, she passed away in the hospital. However, in these pictures, you two appear content and joyous. Dad, what’s happening on?”
Dad paled and slumped into a chair on the couch.
“Dad, what are you hiding? Tell me!
“Hazel, I… With a trembling voice, he replied, “I didn’t want you to know the truth.” “You’re so ignorant of so much.”
“Explain what you mean.” Feeling a new burst of rage, I demanded. “What made you tell me falsehoods for so long?”
His eyes gleamed with suffering as he glanced up at me. “I believed I was defending you. However, perhaps it’s time you learned the entire truth.
Heart palpitating, I fixed my gaze on him.
“Hazel, that was 24 years ago,” he said. “I made the decision to camp by the sea with your mother. We had a lovely weekend together, just the two of us. In addition to talking and laughing, we also established plans for the future.
His expression softened for a little while as I could see the memories coming back to him. “We experienced an amazing time. But everything changed on the way back home. I could no longer steer the automobile. It lost control of the vehicle and collided with a tree.
As I listened, my heart was racing from the shock of what he had spoken. “What took place next?”
Dad went on, “We were in the middle of nowhere, with no cell service, no way to call for help.” “Your mother suffered severe injuries. There was nobody nearby, but I knew I needed assistance. Hazel, I carried her thus. For two hours, I dragged her into the jungle in the hopes that we might come across someone.
My eyes filled with tears as I visualized my father, carrying my injured mother in his arms while they struggled through the wilderness. “However, she didn’t succeed, did she?” With a broken voice, I asked.
With tears running down his cheeks, Dad shook his head. Hazel, no. It was already too late when we got to the closest town. She had vanished.
A sharp, profound agony shot through my chest. Dad, why didn’t you tell me? What made you believe that she passed away at the hospital? How come you have always told me lies?
With grief in his eyes, he glanced at me. “I believed I was defending you. That’s not how I wanted you to remember her. Instead of the tragedy, I wanted you to remember the good moments.
I felt my fury rising as I responded, “But you lied to me.” You allowed me to have false beliefs throughout my entire life. How were you able to do that?
Dad sagged his shoulders and cast his gaze down to his hands. Hazel, I was terrified. Scared you would detest me and think I killed her. I was to blame. I was operating the vehicle. I went crazy. I would still have her here if I had exercised greater caution.
It came as a shock to me that the man who had always been my pillar of support and strength had been lying to me for so long.
My voice broke as I spoke, “I can’t believe you kept this from me.” “Dad, I trusted you. I’m not sure what to think right now.
Dad extended his hand to touch me, but I retreated. “Please,” he begged Hazel. “I never meant to do you harm. I believed that what I was doing was correct.
Tears were running down my cheeks as I shook my head. “Daddy, I need some time. I must reflect.
I straightened up, feeling wobbly on my legs. As I attempted to make sense of it all, the room seemed like it was spinning. I turned and walked out of the home after giving Dad one more glance, his face etched with regret and grief.
As I went outdoors, the crisp air hit me, but it didn’t do anything to dispel the confusion in my head. My heart hurt from the weight of the truth, and I had a deep feeling of betrayal and loss.
I’m not sure how to react to this realization or whether I will ever be able to forgive my father for deceiving me.
Can you provide forgiveness in such a circumstance?