Respect,
It's never easy to earn,
but once you get it
it feels so good.
This is the story of a son
earning the respect he always wanted.

A father, son, and two daughters grew up together,

the daughters living life easy, being spoiled

and given chance after chance with every fuck up.

Meanwhile, the son fought for acknowledgment,

did everything he was told, tried to be perfect

but was never good enough for his father's attention.

No matter how hard he tried, he never could hear those words

the words all sons want to hear their father tell them.

Years went by and the eldest daughter moved out, the youngest still lives at home,

the son has graduated high school, and has recently left college to join the workforce.

Knowing the son gave up on a good future, to chose a "dead end" job,

the father ridiculed and punished his son for failing out of college.

For years the son would put up with the negative comments,

until one day he decides enough was enough and moved out.

Before he left the father and son got into an argument,

the father called him a loser with a dead-end job, he's not gonna amount to anything

the son calmed his breath and replied with you a washed-up swallow s empty shell of your former self.

And with that, the son walked out, bags in hand.

Years go by, the son is now a grown adult, he went from his dead-end job to now owning his own business.

he has a beautiful wife, and kids of his own.

One day he gets a call on his cell,

its the youngest daughter, and she seemed upset.

His father is in hospital, a heart attack a few days ago,

The son recounted his last encounter with his dad, the fight they had.

He looked at his wife and kids, told them he had to go for a bit,

something personal came up, and he needs to right some wrongs.

He drove to the hospital, walking into the room where his father lays asleep,

The beeps and hums from the machine giving a sigh of relief that his father is doing good.

The son sits down in a chair next to his father's bed, as he sits there in silence.

He spoke up;

"Hey dad, been a while, im probably the last person you want to talk to"

"Sis told me what happened, don't know why but I knew I had to come here"

"I didn't want the last encounter we had, be our last"

"I tried so hard for you to notice me, for you to respect me, be proud of me,

like you are with the others"

"I just wanted you to noticed what I've done-"

It's then the son started remembering his past,

and certain things he didn't notice till now.

The happier times, the good times with his dad.

He was there, through the good and bad,

Getting his first car,

graduating from high school,

Meeting his now-wife,

hearing the news of his grandkids

Some many times he was there and he did notice,

"maybe you there, but were you really Prou-"

The son was interrupted by his father making a noise,

his eyes opened, as he looked around, seeing his son sitting next to him.

"Son? You came back?" a small tear could be seen forming in his eyes

"I know im the last person you wanted to see, but-"

The father slowly sat up,

"I heard"

"How much did you hear?"

"All of it"

He turns his body towards his son, "I've always noticed your son"

The father slowly attempted to get up out of bed, a struggle, but

his son was there to help him,

"Then why are you not proud of what I've done"

"And I've always been proud of what you've done"

Before the son could reply to his father, his father embraced him,

in a warm assuring hug.

"I'm proud you found your way, despite all that doubted you,

even me"

"I'm proud of all you have accomplished"

"and  most importantly"

 The two broke up the hug, now sitting back down, locking eyes,

tears on his father's face;

"I'm proud to call you my son"

The father laid down, getting tired

"Dad are you ok?"

"Never better, I can rest easy now son"

The son now tears forming and slowly going down his face,

he knows what his father is talking about.

"But what about your daughters? My sisters?"

"I've said my peace to them, I've always shown them, my love"

"But you my son" As the father turns his head, seeing his sons tears,

"My love was never visible, but it was always there"

"I knew my time was slowly coming, but I couldn't let go"

"Not until we reunited again"

The son now kneeled beside next to his dad, grabbing his hand and placing it by the side of his face.

"i'm here now dad"

"I know, and I couldn't be more proud of you"

There was a long silence as the father breathing grew weaker and weaker

"You are and always will be my greatest success in life"

"You are the reason for my success dad, thank you"

"I love you dad"

The father's hand, still holding on to his son wiped his tears away,

"Son, I love you"

The father's eyes begin to close, slowly, as did his breathing until they were completely shut, as his breathing stopped.

The son set his head on his father's chest, letting the tears flow down, his hands still gripping

his father's hand, the tears of sadness, but tears

of joy as well. The life his father lived, the lessons he learned from

his father, and the truth his father felt towards him.

He was happy to call him his father,

he was happy with the good memories they had, through the bad.

He loves his father, and now he knows

his father loved him too.