Coker and Sons had just completed another days work and Paul was bone tired. He had been up since seven and he wanted a quiet night in. He would call Ben in the morning but he needed a rest. Les was sitting with Pam in the kitchen. Niether of them had been in a good mood all day and deep down Paul knew the reason why: Today was the anniversary of the death of Paul's father Laurie. Paul missed his father more and more each passing day and he knew his grandparents did too.

"Seven years since Laurie went. Seems like it was just yesterday." Les said with a sad sigh as he downed his whiskey and Pam nodded.

"Not a day doesnt go by I dont miss him", Pam whispered as she looked straight ahead, Paul leaned against the kitchen counter, feeling uncomfortable by the mention of his father. Les suddenly stood up and kissed his wife goodnight before heading upstairs, neither Pam nor Paul knowing of his secret. Paul sat in the place taken earlier by his grandfather and held his grandmothers hand.

"You alright Nan?" He asked as she nodded, giving a small smile q to hide her pain.

"Oh I miss your dad Paul. I miss him so much. I really thought i lost you, you know. Im so happy your here. Theres not a day that doesnt go by that I dont see Laurie in you. Yourhair, your eyes and even your smile." She said fondly and Paul felt the tears forming, he wiped them away. Then Pam stood up and opened a cupboard and dug deep before pulling out an envelope. She put the envelope on the table and pushed it over to Paul who looked at it with a confused look on his face.

"This",Pam said, "is a letter that Laurie wrote before he died. This was when the pain he was in was getting too much for him. He wrote this letter for you before...well you know...what happened. Do you want to read it?"

Paul looked at it for a few moments, the reality of what had happened enveloping him but taking a deep breath he took the letter out of the envelope and flattened the contents out on the table. Then, taking another deep breath, he began to read:

To my Paul,

By the time you read this, I will be long gone. This is a letter that no father ever wants to write and my heart feels like its been ripped to pieces. You know already that Im in pain most of the time and I cant do the things i could do before. I cant give you piggy backs, Cant walk with you to school, cant play with you anymore. I cant do it anymore. I know im getting worse and its not fair on Mum and Dad and its definitely not fair on you. I was very young when you was born, I know you probably thought of me as your brother rather than your dad but the reality is Ive always loved you as my son. Try to remember the good times we had and not this illness that I have and remember we still had good times together. Playing football at weekends, birthday parties, spnding time with Grandad and Grandma. I know that you always used to pretend that Grandad was the butler to your Batman. I know how Granddad makes you feel safe now. Mum and Dad will look after you now and they always will. But dont ever forget me Paul and always remember even though you cant see me or hear my voice, Im always here for you. When the wind blows, its me whistling and calling for you, when the sun shines its me smiling down at you and when it rains its my tears knowing that I cant be with you in body. Always remember Paul that I love you and I always will.

All my love,

Laurie, Your dad. xxxx

Pauls face was drenched with tears as he read the letter and Pam held onto him, she was crying also.

"I love you Dad and I always will" Paul cried as he and his gran hld each other and cried together, remembering a man who faced death with dignity and who delivered a fathers sad farewell. One thing was certain: Laurie Coker would never be forgotten.