Life’s Fragility | Teen Ink

Life’s Fragility MAG

December 30, 2008
By Super_Girl14 SILVER, Kansas City, Missouri
Super_Girl14 SILVER, Kansas City, Missouri
9 articles 0 photos 0 comments

He lay there, immobilized, while blood flowed down his arms and pooled in his hands. The concrete parking lot was not an ideal resting spot, but apparently he had no choice. I noticed his gray hair was taking on a reddish tone. He must have hit his head, I thought.

I saw him fall. My mom and I were driving through the grocery store parking lot around 9 o’clock on a Tuesday night. A plastic bag in either hand, he exited the store. I saw him struggling to find his car. I looked away, probably engaging in some banter with my mom. I looked back and saw him fall hard on his back. A woman in her mid-twenties, the only other person around, rushed over. I saw him struggling to regain consciousness. The woman darted into the store for help. My mom stopped the car and we ran over just as the store employees arrived. He tried to get to his feet, but instead fell painfully on his face. My mom managed to help him up as he struggled to regain his balance.

“Do you know this man?” the store owner asked.

“Yes,” Mom replied. “He’s her father.” She was referring to me, of course; the elderly man was my dad.

I was standing next to a man whom I had not seen or heard from in almost a year. How could I be his daughter? I thought. I noticed his footing was still unstable as he began to laugh. A fierce smell of alcohol exuded from his mouth. He recognized me, at least, but his words were so slurred I had no clue what he was trying to say. Honestly, I didn’t care. He had hurt me more than humanly possible and now I was supposed to listen to his drunken rambling?

We drove him home. My eyes filled with tears. Apparently, I actually cared about the guy. That night I could not stop crying as the scene played over and over in my head. The vivid pictures still appear a year later.

As we entered the unlocked door to his apartment, I noticed the kitchen. A pizza lay half-eaten on the stove. Empty pill bottles covered the counter. A bottle of vodka sat in the sink, and the trash was loaded with beer cans. As a matter of fact, the entire place reeked of beer. The living room carpet was so stained, I was unsure of its original color. A DVD player, which I gave him for Christmas, lay unopened on his filthy couch. I continued to explore his place since I had not been here since elementary school. In the bedroom, I opened his closet and found a huge pile of clothes on the floor. What happened to my dad? Where was I when he went through this horrible transformation? Could I have helped?

I have only seen my dad a few times since that day. The first was at the hospital. He supposedly had what they call an alcoholic seizure. He recovered, as always. The next time was Christmas. Instead of being inundated with expensive, unwanted gifts, I received nothing from him, not even a card.

I remember the last time I saw him as clearly I see these words forming in front of my eyes. He was moving to Florida and my mom, being the nice person she is, offered to help him pack. I unwillingly came along. It started out like so many of their fights: he refused to admit he was an alcoholic. I don’t remember exactly what was said, but I remember how it felt.

He began cursing. The excruciating sound of those words filled my ears. I couldn’t take it. My dad, who did absolutely nothing to help me in my life, started verbally abusing the only person who has always been there for me. I started crying and quickly exited the apartment, slamming the screen door. “See, you got what you wanted,” he yelled at my mom as I was leaving. That was the last sentence I heard him speak.

When I’m asked who influenced my life the most, I’m expected to say my mom or my grandma – someone who has actually been there for me. But instead, I think of the person who only made an impact on my life during this last year, and not a good one either. He made me see life in a whole new light. That line is cheesy, I know, and it’s probably used by thousands of high school seniors attempting to write the most heartfelt essay, but I don’t know how else to explain it. I was hurt. I hated him for a time. I even occasionally pitied him. However, I have never regretted having him as my father.

He showed me the dangerous side of alcohol, so I will never end up like him. His troubles made me realize the fragility of life. That night I saw him for what he had become and I’m a better person because of it.



Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 15 comments.


on Sep. 15 2012 at 10:32 am
michellemejia95 SILVER, San Pedro Sula, Other
5 articles 2 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
As long as you can dream it, you can do it.

Everyday do something that scares you.

magnificent! Love your writing style. 

sam hudson said...
on Apr. 17 2012 at 6:48 pm
this is an amazing story, and an extremely engaging peice. i comend your stength and your determination. youd be suprised with what alittle motivation will get you through.

on Jul. 23 2010 at 11:09 am
lizzymwrites GOLD, Miami, Florida
13 articles 0 photos 56 comments

Favorite Quote:
The only people for me are the mad ones... the ones who never yawn and say a commonplace thing but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow Roman candles exploding like spiders against the stars." - Jack Kerouac

Wow. I think I maybe speechless. =D

hanafan36 said...
on May. 18 2010 at 8:00 am
This is an amazing piece. You used fantastic imagery in the beginning and used the prompt to your full advantage. However, compared to the beginning, your ending starts fading. Finish strong.

Nyrihaz said...
on Apr. 26 2010 at 9:31 pm
Nyrihaz, Isabela, Other
0 articles 0 photos 24 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Listen to the screams a silent room makes"

This was very good. You feel real emotion through every single word and understand your last sentence. Sometimes, is those that hurt you the most that evenly mark you.

Very good piece, honest and sensible.

Nice!


on Feb. 19 2010 at 11:11 pm
Mystery_Girl SILVER, Lake, Michigan
8 articles 6 photos 86 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Love me or Hate me"......"Me Vs. The World and the World is Winning"......"When the going gets tough the tough get going".

This was AMAZING!!! I definitally know how you feel. I come from a family of alcoholics and I recently did a speech on it. And wow this is great!! Good job and you did a good job with your pain. It was definitally shared!

SBlossom said...
on Dec. 29 2009 at 7:59 pm
Impressive writing style

cass said...
on Dec. 15 2009 at 7:31 pm
wow this was really good. you were so original and i loved the message and how personal it ws

on Nov. 23 2009 at 6:33 pm
XOXOhaloXOXO GOLD, Ellsworth, Maine
13 articles 1 photo 63 comments

Favorite Quote:
I'm the author of my life and, unfortunately, I'm writing in pen=]

that was really good. i could feel your pain throughout the story and i wanted to read more, even though it was depressing. not every story's happy and boy, this really sets that across!

xsunahkim said...
on Nov. 1 2009 at 8:19 pm
honestly, the story was really compelling. it really was, no joke. it made me wanting to keep on reading more.

but the thing is that i was wondering the whole time "okay... so what? what does that say about the writer?"

the story was all about the father, it was never fully on you. the story itself is good, but it strays off topic by not telling the reader about the writer him/herself.

the end was really disappointing as it left me wondering unsatisfied and clueless about the writer.

Mike said...
on Sep. 20 2009 at 1:38 pm
I am stunned

on Sep. 18 2009 at 8:09 pm
FallenDarksideHuntress, Henrieville, Utah
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments
This is so nice and so beautiful way to go

on Sep. 18 2009 at 5:39 pm
wordweaver96 PLATINUM, Winchester, Kentucky
37 articles 2 photos 254 comments

Favorite Quote:
" It is not our abilities but our choices that show who we truly are. "
Albus Dumbledore


See, we really DON'T have anything to fear but fear itself!

oh my gosh this is beautiful and so amazing.

on Aug. 24 2009 at 10:29 am
phoebe-bird SILVER, Shanghai, Other
7 articles 2 photos 8 comments
I nearly cried when I reached the end. I felt so ashamed of mine. The best college essay I have ever read. PS: You was admitted by?

on May. 6 2009 at 3:23 pm
This was a great essay, I too know how you feel, it was well writin and I hope others agree