A Reconciliation with Society’s Monster
A Remembrance of My Father
As he lay there on the sterile stainless-steel table, I looked down to examine him one final time. After years of not seeing him, my father was here in front of me. This was also the first time I had physically looked down on him. He was always, based on stature and presence, one to be looked up to.
Before me now was the man who helped usher me into this world. After this long time away, here he was motionless and breathless. It was during my senior year of high school when he was arrested, and ultimately convicted of murder.
At 43 years of age, I was seeing my father for the first time since then. In that moment there came the realization that he had lived his life in prison and experienced his freedom again only through death. I also reflected on how, so many years ago, I watched from the upstairs window as the police took him away from my grandparent’s home. At that time I was numb and never considered that would be my last time seeing him alive. And now, in this moment came the reality that this would be the absolute last time seeing him.
It was odd to see a man of such fire and passion so still and silent. He appeared much older now and looked even older than that due to living a tumultuous life. This, in addition to navigating the world of prison had…
