text: “Son.” I coughed. “Yes, father?” My son, Jacob asked. “Let’s go for a walk along the shore.” I said, stifling another cough. “But it’s raining father. You’ll get sick.” “I know son, but c’mon, spend some time with your old man, while it lasts.” I smiled at him. “If that’s what you want, father. Very well, let me get my coat.” “Take your time son.” I coughed. As Jacob walked toward the closet of our home, I couldn’t help but look at how much he’d grown up. “You’ve got nothing but time on your hands, son. Unlike me.” I whispered as I coughed some more. Twenty years in the blink of an eye. Felt like only yesterday that I was changing his diapers, and teaching him to walk. I grabbed my poncho, cap, and lantern. Jacob came back a moment later, his raincoat around his shoulders. “Look at you, my boy. All grown up. Brings a tear to my eye.” I said wiping my eyes. “Yeah...I learned from you. And mom.” he smiled at me. Such a good kid. I’m glad I raised him well. “Ready to go?” I asked, scratching my greying beard. “Of course father. Lead the way.” I smiled at him, and turned on my lantern. I opened the door and heard the sound of the pouring rain, pattering on the ground. The cold, and dark night was oddly alluring. I took not but two steps out onto the porch before the rain began falling off my poncho. The amber glow of the lantern bathed the rundown, muddy road in an orange light. Jacob was right beside me as we began to make our way down the road. “Father, why on all nights would you want to go out at a time like this? It’s cold, wet and you’ve been getting ill lately. I’m worried.” “It’s a special night son. A night that I want to spend with you.” I said following the winding road. “What’s so special about it?” “I’ll tell you in a bit. When I-when were both ready.” I said smiling. Jacob looked at me with a confused glance. “Okay then father, lead on.” he said. Such a good kid. “I always loved the rain. And thunderstorms.” I said as I laughed through a cough. “Why is that father?” Jacob asked. “Well you see, I always believed there was a dragon that lived in a cave. And every time he woke up, he snarled and the smoke poured from his nostrils and into the sky. Then he roars, and there is a distant rumble of thunder.” I closed my eyes, picturing it in my head. “And then a maiden of the sky came down, to soothe the beast. But he tricked her, and locked her away in a cage. And the maiden began crying, her tears forming the rain that soaks the earth.” I said, looking up, the raining splashing on my face. “And then came a prince atop a Pegasus of the gales, it’s wings flapping, beating to the howl of the wind. The prince, his resolve unshakable, draws his sword. Every swing the prince took, carves across the dragon’s rocky hide as sparks of lightning flash across the sky. But the dragon is eventually outsmarted by the prince, and goes back to his cave and is put to sleep and the maiden is released. ‘Till the dragon stirs from slumber again.” I explained as we walked down the road. I saw the giant lighthouse sitting on the bluffs of the beach. To the left of the cliff’s face was the beach. The sands drenched by the raging waves that crawl onto the beach. “I don’t know why, but there’s something calming about the rain. Don’t you think, my son?” “You could say that.” Jacob said. “You do know dragons, maidens and princes don’t really exist?” Jacob turned to me, looking at me with disbelief. I laughed. Which then became a hard, phlegmy cough. “Course I do, son. But also, nothing is impossible when you put your imagination to it.” I laughed as I held my arms out, the lantern swaying in my hands. “I guess your right.” He shrugged. “C’mon son. Humor your old man, just this once?” I asked. “After all, you don’t know if the time you spend with your dad will be your last.” I said, looking into his deep blue eyes. “Sure dad, I'll humor you. Seventy years old, and still acting like your twelve.” Jacob laughed. “I’m old, son. I like to think about my younger years. Makes me realize what I missed out on when I was a kid. Getting old is a beauty. You’ve lived a lifetime, seen the world pass you by, seen it change. I remember when I was but a lad, that lighthouse wasn’t even built yet. This beach was nothing more then sharp rocks, and water.” I said, looking over to the lighthouse’s peak that sits a silhouette atop the cliff. “Yeah. Mom used to say that the Lighthouse was built fifty years ago. I never really thought about how much time that really is. Least until now.” He said, admiring its beauty. “Aye.” I nodded. “Puts things into perspective.” I went on. We got to the edge of the rocky slope. “Come son. Have a seat with your old man. I’m tired.” I said, groaning as I sat down. I patted the soggy grass next to me. Jacob sat down. I took a deep breath and let it out. I smelt the briny sea water and hit my nostrils at the same time the salty texture plastered across my taste buds. It reminded me of my time on the waves. “Ever heard of the Pilgrim son?” “Yeah. Thought she was an old folk tale.” I chuckled lightly. And then began coughing again. “No. Not really. When I was a youngin, and sailing the seas, me and the crew used to pray to her for guidance. Some say it’s her who created the wind, the storms, the waves. And fer a while, I believed ‘em.” I smiled. “I did too.” Jacob said. “Really?” I asked as I placed my hands on the ledge of the slope. “Yeah. Every Time you were away, I prayed to her to keep you safe. Look over mom, before she...And now that your starting to get sick...I’m worried.” Jacob said. “Don’t be. I’ll get over it soon enough son. Then you won’t have to worry about me no more. Matter of fact. I think by tonight...I should be all better.” “What do you mean, dad?” Jacob looked at me. I smiled. “I’m dying, son.” His expression dropped. “What do you mean? What are you talking about?” He asked, desperately trying to read me. “That can’t be true.” “‘Fraid it is son. Not much I can do about it either.” “No. You can’t be dying. Your gonna get better dad, you have to fight this!” He said, his voice breaking. “It’s hereditary son. My Father and I had the same conversation when I was your age. And everything you said, was what I said. There’s nothing you can do son, except make this old man happy. Make his last night on earth a memorable one.” I told him, my smile still never cracking off my face. Jacob seemed to be taken aback by my words, but I still looked at him with the biggest grin I could muster. “You’ve already made this old dog happy on his last night by going for this walk with him. As much as I would love to keep going on. I can’t. I’m afraid I don’t have enough strength to make it, son. Your the only one to carry on our lineage.” I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “And I’m only telling you this, because I’m doing everything in my power to give you one last night with your father. To say your goodbyes before I pass on.” “What makes you think your dying tonight?” Jacob asked. “I can feel it. Woke up this morning and said to myself “This is it. This is the day I die.” I shrugged. “And your not upset?” “How can I? seventy years on this beautiful earth? Fifty of them spent with your mother? Thirty of that spent with you? I can’t cry over that. All the memories I have? The times I spent with you and your mother? I can’t pass those up. Just remember to stay strong son. You’ll find a woman out there for you. And soon you’ll have this conversation with your son or daughter later on down the line.” I felt the stinging of the tears in my eyes as I gazed upon my son for the last time. I didn’t hide it as I let the tears roll down my cheeks, the smile still not fading from my lips. “Goodbye son. I always loved you.” I said, my lips quivering. “Goodbye father. I love you.” Jacob said, between his sobs. “May the pilgrim guide your way, may she add my life to the stars above.” I said with the last ounce of my strength as I slumped into my son's warm arms. Such a good kid. Such...a...good...kid. Such...a...good. Such...a... Such... And I shut my eyes.