It was the day of Kyle's funeral, which was held at his school. His father arrived at the campus, expecting that he would only see his relatives. But the number of people who came far exceeded his expectations! Almost the entire school was there. Teachers, students, and even staff. The place was so crowded that he couldn't believe it. Those who were in the soccer team came in their jerseys, like the ones Kyle used to wear when he was still alive.

After a series of prayers and speeches, Kyle's father was called up to the podium to give his speech. Trembling, he went up to the podium and faced the crowd. What was he going to say in front of more than seven hundred people? He inhaled deeply and made his speech. Those attending the funeral had their eyes filled with tears as he made his speech. After speaking for a few minutes, he saw that he had to conclude already.

"I regret that although my son had always wanted me to see him play, even for one minute, I never fulfilled his wish. 'I'm sorry' were his last words, the words that I should have said to him," he concluded. The crowd clapped somberly as he went down the stage and wiped his tears.

They followed the hearse to the cemetery, walking instead of riding vehicles. The boy was buried next to his mother, the mother he never truly saw during his life on Earth. They wept and wailed as his casket was lowered into the ground.

After the funeral, everyone left and headed home. The father didn't want to look back, for if he did he would be painfully reminded of his son. Only one person remained.

The young man who hadn't left was dressed like a soldier. He sat down in between the graves of the mother and son. On the mother's grave, he placed a red rose with a yellow ribbon tied to the stem. On Kyle's grave, he placed a framed photograph. It was a picture of the two brothers playing a game of soccer, when Kyle was six and Austin was twelve. The young man bowed his head and prayed a silent prayer. After that, he stood up and left. Kyle's father then noticed that the young man placed something on his family's graves. He approached the young man and asked,

"Who are you?"

The young man faced him and wiped his face with a handkerchief to reveal his true identity. When the old man realized who he was, he gasped.

"My name is Austin, and I'm your firstborn son."

"Austin? I have missed you so! Where have you been?"

"Fighting for survival in a foreign land, that's what. To be honest, I think you should be very shameful of yourself."

"I am," said the old man.

"Then let's go home."

"Wait, I need to do something first."

The old man fingered his pen and fumbled his notebook from his briefcase. He tore out a blank page and wrote a letter to his deceased wife and son.

To my wife and son;
I'm sorry for all that I've done to you.
For my wife, I'm sorry for the fights I involved you in.
For my son, I'm sorry for scolding you and not coming to any of your soccer matches.
I'm sorry for all the times I had hurt both of you, whether physically or emotionally.
I regret all of them.
I hope that I will be forgiven.

Sincerely,
Your Husband and Father

When he was done, he left the grave. He returned home with his firstborn son in the same car that killed Kyle.

THE END