Get your tissues ready folks

Good reading to you all!

Are You Ready?

"I'm surprised he is still with us."

Ah, that line again. I get it every other day from the men in white coats, and the women in white and blue scrubs. Don't they know an old man can still hear?

Yes. I am old and grey. My eyes are no longer usable, though my son says they are still as red as they came. He told me I still had a head of the whitest hair, though I knew I had started balding at the tender age of forty. My body was saggy, and thin, and brittle. I shook whenever I held anything. But, yes. I am still here, alive and kicking.

Well, not so much kicking as sleeping. She used to only appear in my dreams. She was a woman with the longest, silkiest hair I had ever seen. She has the most beautiful face. The face of an angel, with bright blue eyes and pale, flawless skin. Funnily enough, she wore red glasses.

We spoke sometimes, her and I. She asked me so many questions.

Was I eating well, how was my son doing, how was I doing. Sometimes we would sit in complete silence, and she would just look at me. She seemed so familiar, but no matter how many times I asked, she would only shake her head and smile, making my chest ache in the best way possible.

Nowadays, she appeared when I was awake too. She was the only one I could see vividly. Everyone else was blurry, and out of focus, even my awesome little grandkids. Sadly, my son brought them less and less, as I got weaker and weaker.

I am no fool. I know what is happening to me. I know that I am going soon. I couldn't blame my son for not wanting his kids to see that.

The woman would sit next to me as I spoke to my son sometimes. She looked at him so adoringly, but at the same time, so sadly. He never seemed to notice her. When I had brought her up, my son looked to sadly at me, I almost cried. And I don't cry.

More often than not, the lady would ask me the same question, day in and day out.

"Are you ready?"

Ready for what exactly, I wasn't sure. But I always said I need to see my boy one more time, I need to settle this first, this, that, or the other thing. But I am getting tired, I suppose. Sometimes, I sleep for entire days. She comes more and more. She never looks at me sadly, just with a smile in her eyes and on her lips.

She is beautiful.

…

"Dad?"

I can't bring myself to open my eyes. I am so comfortable. She is holding my hand. She is so warm, unlike this hospital room.

"You can go now, dad." Why are you crying, my boy? "I won't be alone. I got my babies, and my wife."

I know that son. The woman is getting brighter, her skin more and more perfect. But, son, are you sure you are ready? Have I taught you enough?

She begins to tug my arm a little. He smile is brighter than ever before.

"You made me into the most awesome man I could be. You are the best man I have ever met."

I wish I could smile at my baby boy, but I am just too tired. She touches my face and I feel a tug in my stomach, in my chest, in my arms and legs.

"Go be with mama now. I am sure she misses you, so much."

His mother. Ah, what an amazing woman. Gorgeous too. The woman smiles at me again, her eyes ablaze.

"Monika?" I whisper.

My boy laughs. It's a wet laugh. "Yeah, Monika dad. I'm sure she is waiting for you."

The woman, Monika, laughs, and oh, what a sound. She tugs at my hand again. I feel my body jolt for only a second.

I am a young man again, with a sturdy body, a head full of starlight hair. I fold my hand over hers. She leads me to a door so bright and warm, it makes me ache with longing.

"Are you ready?"

…