Anna (standard:other, 1320 words)
Author: STMissouri	Added: Aug 25 2003	Views/Reads: 3158/2131	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Story of a widowed father and his daughter raising his daughter after the death of his wife.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


Graduation day came and went.  One thing I was happy 

about was that Anna could see this and enjoy the day with 

us.  Jessica decided to spend the day with us instead of 

going to graduation parties that her friends are having. 

After graduation, we went home where I made Jessica and 

Anna's favorite foods: fried chicken, rice and corn.  Anna 

ate as much as she could, which wasn't much, but I was proud 

that she was able to eat.  The rest of our day was spent 

watching television.  I want to tell Jess that it's her day, 

and to spend it with her friends, but I know that she wants 

to spend as much time with her mother as possible.  Everyday 

during the summer, Jessica and I spent hours with Anna, who 

grew sicker and sicker each day.  Its killing both of us to 

see Anna in this condition, because she is so pale, and 

thin, just a shell of her former vibrant self. 

Anna died on August 31st of that year.  She died in her 

sleep with no pain.  Jessica was the one who found her.  Oh 

how I wish it was I who discovered her body.  She's at peace 

now, still in my heart.  She will always be my high school 

sweetheart, college sweetheart, married right after college. 

She saw me through ups and downs, getting through grad 

school, long hours at work.  I did as much as I could to 

make those days for her better. 

Once I finished grad school and entered the work, our 

life together was a little bit better, but not much.  Since 

I was beginning, the hours were long and we seldom saw each 

other.  She saw it through and stuck by my side.  We had 

hoped to wait until I was a little more settled into work 

before we began having children, but we soon found ourselves 

expecting a little bundle of joy. 

When Jessica was born, our world for now was complete. 

Raising her was extremely fun.  She was a joyful baby who 

hardly cried.  It was amazing to see this human, who began 

as one cell grow into this bouncing baby girl. 

Jess was about three when we tried to have another 

child, hopefully a boy this time.  No matter how much we 

tried, we just never conceived.  The two of us found out 

that Anna had a blockage of scar tissue in her fallopian 

tubes.  "With that much tissue build-up, it's a miracle that 

Jessica was even conceived" Dr Jones said.  That I remember 

clearly.  Dwelling on something, no matter how sad it is, 

just isn't something what we do.  This just made us dote on 

Jess even more.  Though she was a little spoiled by us, we 

made sure to teach her the right thing.  It was a joy to see 

her grow up. 

After Anna died, at first I threw myself into work, and 

taking care of Jessica.  Nothing else mattered to me. 

Jessica's Teenage years were crucial to me as was learning 

about each other and growing closer. 

Everyday goes by and I miss my Anna.  Everyday goes by 

and I get closer to my daughter.  I learned more and more 

about her, and got closer to her.  I made sure that Jessica 

knew that she could come to me for anything.  It makes me 

feel better that she can and does. 

Years go by and even though I miss Anna, I'm dealing 

with my grief.  Jessica is about to start college.  It's a 

wonder she made it this far, with just me to push her.  She 

has worked hard through her grief.  Though she doesn't think 

I see it, I see when she breaks down.  Especially on those 

days that remind her of her mother, like her birthday and 

holidays.  On those days we visit Anna's grave and keep her 

up to date on our lives. 

Jessica's prom night is tomorrow night.  I really don't 

know what to do, so I do what I think Anna would have done. 

I let her be free for this one night.  It's what our parents 

did to Anna and me for our prom.  We had a lot of fun and it 

cemented our love for each other.  When her date came to the 

door, I made sure that he takes care of my little girl 

tonight.  She came down the stairs and I almost cried. 

Jessica looked almost exactly like the girl that I fell in 

love with all those years ago.  Pictures, a hug, a kiss and 

off she went to prom. 

When she came back the next morning, we talked of her 

night, her plans for graduation and college.  She planned on 

going to the University of Georgia to study psychology.  She 

wants to be able to help people like her go through hard 

times. 

The day that we both hoped for was Jessica's high 

school graduation.  I was so proud to see her walk across 

the stage to get her diploma.  It didn't even matter to me 

that she wasn't the valedictorian, it just mattered that she 

did it.  Afterwards, we went out to the car then she went to 

a graduation party.  Anna, I'm so proud of our daughter, you 

would be too, if you were here. 

Well, Anna I'm going to go now.  I placed the flowers 

on the grave and ran my hands across the marker that read: 

Anna, 

Beloved wife, mother, high school sweetheart 

We'll always love you 

I walked away and got into my car and began to cry.  Cried 

for missed holidays, and the love we shared over the years. 

After I composed myself enough to drive, I drove away to 

join my daughter on her important day. 


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