Chapter-1 The memorial
I am standing in the crowd of 350 people, all eyes looking at me, some have tears in them, some are unaffected and some are trying to hide the tears by putting up their false bravado.
My own eyes are red and puffy from crying all day, tears are still pouring down like this never-ending fountain. My hands shake as I pick up my eulogy paper and turned back to look at my father’s photo, his face clean and not even a speck of dirt or blood, unlike the body we saw at the hospital, the one that was pierced with bullets, blood all over his face. But even the blood could not cover the pride, the bravery that his face shone off.
He was a proud police officer, who rescued 200 civilians and over 30 kids from the hijacked hotel. He did that alone; he was the only police officer in that hotel when the hijack happened. He shielded the kids with his own body. Even though it hurts me immensely that he is not with us anymore, I am proud, I am proud to be daughter of that man and my pride swells when all the people he saved sit before me in his memorial.
He has earned respect, this is what he told me about every day, and it was like I could suddenly hear his voice again,
“Luna, do you know what is the hardest thing to earn”
“Yes, dad I know RESPECT”
“No, you are just saying it you don’t know it. The day you will feel the respect of people, it is a feeling you won’t be able to shake forever”
I cover my mouth as more tears start flowing through my eyes, falling down to the paper. I get it dad, now I get it.
I clear my throat, wipe my tears unfold the paper on my hand and start the speech.
“As you all know my father was a brave man, he always did the right thing, even when it was the most difficult thing to do. But very few of you know that he was a big fan of poems, so I am going to just recite that poem to honor him,
When you’re up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it’s vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through!
Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don’t let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through!
Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you’re beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don’t give up, whate’er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through!
As I say the poem, I could see my father standing near the church door saying the poem with me, and as soon as the poem ends, he starts walking outside the church door and I yell,
“Dad, I won’t ever forget what you taught me, I will become a brave and honest police officer just like you were, I love you a lot, I miss you”
He turns back and salutes me and I immediately salute back and then he walks out and vanishes into the bright light outside the door. I fall to the ground crying and few people take me back to my seat.
The very next morning, I get out of my bed and without shedding an ounce of tear, wear my uniform, if only he had lived till today, he would have seen me go on duty like a normal police officer, he would be so proud, tears start to choke me but I drink them back, No, not today, today. I look in the mirror, adjust my hat and walk to towards the door.
Just as I enter the police department, welcome Luna Mathew, from now on you are official a Police Detective. I touch my badge and look at my father’s office and whisper, “I will make you proud dad, I will make you proud”.
