The next morning, Little Josh woke up from his sleep. The sun reflected on his face. His face was swollen and pale. He tried to get up, but he was to weak to. After a long time, he managed to get down from the bed. He opened the door of the room and went outside.
He looked everywhere and saw different people. Some were on wheel chairs. There were nurses and doctors everywhere. He even noticed that the outfit he wore wasn't the same anymore. "Did daddy come here yesterday?" He was happy. He decided to search for his father in the huge hospital. He was disappointed when he couldn't see his father. He decided to go back to the ward where his father kept him. "Daddy must be there."
When he reached the ward, he saw Smith who looked really worried. "Uncle?"
Smith turned his head back to see Josh. He ran to meet the boy. He carried him and hugged him tight. "Where were you my boy?"
"I went to look for daddy. Where is he?" He looked at Smith and blinked multiple times.
Smith was speechless. He knew the little boy will not immediately remember everything that happened yesterday. How was he going to tell him that his father was murdered or even dead? He gently laid the boy on the bed and covered him against cold. "Rest now okay? I will be right back." He left the ward.
As soon as he closed the door, he started crying. His best friend went through a lot in that devil's hand. He swore never to let that woman go scot-free. He knew he had to tell Josh the truth. But how? He was really confused about everything. "God please help me." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He decided to ask the doctor for advice.
He came back to the room and saw Josh who was already asleep. He sighed In relief. He sat down next to the boy and gently rubbed his hair. "I am sorry son. Please be calm when I tell you the truth. Please." He whispered.
The doctor came into the ward to check on Josh. After the check up, Smith decided to talk to the doctor. He went out with the doctor for Josh to rest. "Doctor. Josh doesn't remember everything that happened yesterday. He keeps on asking about his father. I don't want to tell him but, he still needs to know. I am confused."
The doctor placed his hand on Smith's shoulder. "It's okay Mister Smith. He woke up from shock. As time goes on, when he doesn't see his father he will remember everything. Is better he does, than someone telling...." A sudden scream was heard from Josh's ward. The two men ran inside to see Josh who was sitting on the bed, panting.
Smith sat beside him and hugged him. "It's okay son. It's okay."
The doctor checked on Josh. "It looks like he dreamt about something bad."
Josh looked at Smith. "Mummy placed a knife here.." He pointed to his neck. "Daddy did not wake up." Tears rolled down from his eyes. " Daddy is not coming."
Smith hugged the boy who started crying, tight. He looked at the doctor who nooded his head, assuring him that everything is okay. The boy was letting it all out.
Josh cried for a long time before drifting off to sleep again. The doctor left the ward, while Smith stayed back. Smith called the detective chief inspector about how much information they have gathered about Kyle's death.
"We have collected the fingerprint from the knife. It's the deceased fingerprint."
Smith was confused. "I don't understand."
"It is possible that the murderer wore something to harm him. I think when he was stabbed, he held the knife to know what hurt him. Because he was already bleeding as soon as he was stabbed. The knife handle was filled with blood." The officer sighed. "There is no evidence against her."
"But she ran away. And Josh saw everything." Smith groaned in frustration.
"Yes, but no evidence to claim that she was the one who killed him."
After they spoke to each other, Smith cut the call. He sat on the floor and rested his back on the wall. He looked up at Josh. " What will I do now. How did she murder him clean?" He rested his head on the wall and closed his eyes. Soon, he fell asleep.
The next morning, he woke up to see Josh who stood in front of him and was staring at him. He chuckled. "Come here." He pulled the cute boy to his lap. "Are you okay?" The boy nodded. The man smiled." Good. You will soon be discharged from the hospital okay?"
"Yes uncle."
"And as from today on, you will be living with me okay?" The boy nodded. The man noticed the boy's sad face. "Josh don't be sad. You know why your daddy called me?"
Josh looked at the man. Smith was happy he got the boy's attention. "He called me because he was sure that after he is gone, I will take care of you. He will be happy wherever he is seeing that you are here with me. Now that you are sad, he won't be happy. Do you want your daddy to be sad?"
The boy shook his head. "No I don't want him to be sad."
"Then I want you to smile. You know if you smile. Your daddy up there." He pointed out to the window. "He will also smile. He may not be here anymore. But he will always be here." He pointed his fingers at Josh's heart.
Josh smiled. "Daddy will always be here." He pointed to his heart. Smith was relieved that his friend's son understood the matter. The boy acted more mature than his age. He wondered how he grew up living with his mother.
After a few days in the hospital, Josh was finally discharged. They went to Smith's house. Smith opened the door and saw his son watching cartoon. He was yelling. "Look at the river behind you Dora!!" Smith and Josh looked at each other before they looked at the little boy again. "Finally you saw it ' 'ambigo'." Smith bursted into laughter which startled the little boy. "Daddy!" He ran to hug his father. Smith carried his son up and kissed him on the cheek. "Son is not 'ambigo' it's 'amigo'. It's a spanish word which means 'friend'.
The little boy nodded his head. He looked at Josh who was looking at him also. "Daddy who is this?"
"Oh." Smith put the boy down. "He will be leaving with us. Josh, meet Daniel. Daniel, meet Josh." He looked at the boys who were staring at each other. "I will leave both of you to know each other." He left to drop Josh's luggage in his new room.
They stared at each other for a long time. Daniel looked at Josh from head to toe. " You are taller than me. How old are you?"
"I am five."
"Wow. I am three years old. You are older than me. I will call you bro." He pulled Josh to the living room. "Let's watch TV". They both sat down to watch the television.
Josh looked at what Daniel was watching. "What show is this?"
"Oh. It's Dora The Explorer. It's a new cartoon."
Josh nodded his head and watched the show with Daniel who was still arguing with the show. "Can't you see it Dora!? His arguments made Josh who was sitting beside him, laugh hard.
Smith and the house keeper who was watching them from behind felt very happy. The house keeper looked at Smith who had tears in his eyes. "Your best friend will be very happy now."
He cleaned his tears and whispered. "He will. Yes he will."
It's been fifteen years since Josh's father's death. It was his father's death anniversary. He went with Daniel and Mr Smith to the cemetery. He knelt down and placed the white lilies in his father's grave. "Father, how are you? I am also doing well. After you left, I have been taken care of by the best person you sent me off to. I am greatful for this person you had in your life."
Mr Smith knelt down also. "Hey bro. I have taken care of your son like how I promised. You brought him up well. He is a good boy. I miss you so much. But, you will always be in my heart." Daniel squatted and patted his father's back.
"Hey uncle Kyle. I am Daniel. Josh's friend and also like a brother. I am lucky to see the man that brought this dude to the world. He can be annoying sometimes, but I love him so much." Josh glared at him which made Smith laugh. "What? I am reporting you to him duhh. As I was saying thank you for showing him the love and support of both a father and mother. I wish I met you, but the circumstances you had, couldn't make me come to your house." He placed his hand on the grave. " Although that woman is walking freely. We will make sure you get your justice uncle."
They spent some time in the cemetery, before they took Smith to the hospital.
Smith was diagnosed with cancer of the lungs. Unfortunately, he was already on the last stage. He became extremely weak and tired, so they had to admit him to the hospital. He could only live for a year. Smith's time was near.
After three weeks of staying in the hospital, Smith called his two sons. They were in the ward with him. He held their hands together and smiled.
"You have grown well my boys." He placed his hand on Daniel's cheeks. Daniel was already crying. "Don't cry my boy. Even though your mother died, I promised to take care of you and I did that. I am happy you grew up well." He laughed. "My comedian, your mother will be proud of me. I can finally rest In peace."
Daniel choked on his tears. "No dad. Don't say that okay. Don't go now. I don't know what I will do." He rested his head on his father's chest and continued crying. His father patted his son's head. Smith looked at Josh who was also crying. He pulled him closer. Josh sat down beside him and held his hand tighter.
"Josh. I am proud of you. You remind me of your father. This is my last wish for you. I want you to search the whole world to get that woman who killed your father. I need you to give justice to my best friend, your father. I will not be here to do that, but you will." He tried to sit up, Josh and Daniel helped him gently.
"Josh, your father willed all his properties to you before his death." Josh was surprised. "I thought...."
"Yes you thought your dad's company went bankrupt. The truth is that he lied to Mabel that he went bankrupt when he found out that she married him for his money. He secretly transferred all the properties to you and said you will have all when you are twenty. In my room, you will see a safe in my wardrobe. The passcode is Daniel's date of birth. In there, you will see the property papers of all what your dad owns. He already signed it. Now all you need is your signature and you will own everything."
Josh and Daniel looked at each other stupefied. Josh broke the silence." I promise you I will avenge my father's death. But now uncle, please don't talk about dying now okay?" He and Daniel help the man lie on his bed back.
Smith coughed and Daniel handed him water to drink. " My boys, no need to be sad. I know I will always be in your hearts." Please whatever you do, don't ever seperate."
"We won't father." Daniel assured his father and Josh nodded in agreement.
Smith smiled. "I love you my b- boys." He started coughing and choking. He held Daniel's hand tighter.
"Dad! Dad!" Daniel panicked. Josh ran out to call the doctor before Smith called him back. He ran to him and held his hand. "Don't go anywhere. Let me see two of you before I close my eyes. Please you both should....live...well...." The heart monitor that was beeping, beeped faster before it stopped.
"Uncle!"
"Father!!" Daniel screamed as he shook Smith who was already dead. "No!"
Josh closed his eyes. He had lost another important person in his life. He went to Daniel who was still crying, to hug and console him. Daniel and Josh cried bitterly.
Few days later, Smith was buried near his wife's grave. Daniel, Josh and few people who knew Smith performed the burial rites for Smith.
'I promise uncle, I will avenge my father's death and take care of Daniel. No one will harm him ever. You will be proud of me.' Josh thought as he looked at the grave. He hugged Daniel who cried for his father.