I could see from a distance Mr and Mrs Brown coming up the hill, Uri’s parents. They looked concerned as I approached them. I smiled and bounced to a halt in front of their eyes. I asked if they were all right, if they found a tow truck and why they were walking, instead of driving, up the hill. It took a while for it to settle in their heads. I could see them share worried glances and I let them continue to examine me. After a while I took one last glance up the road I just came down from and with a look towards the Brown’s said, “We loved Uri and we can’t take back what happened but I think he would want us to move on. We loved him and he loved us. I think he would still want us to live and laugh like we did when he was here. Don’t forget him but don’t dwell on him. That’s why I’m smiling.”
They both looked shocked to here those words flow from my mouth. I was a bit surprised at first, until Mrs Brown pulled out a piece of paper from her purse and handed it to me. It was hand-written and dated. The date was a day before he passed and said the following;
To my mother, father and my Asia,
I know it will be hard to move on from this event but I know you can. I am not scared like I thought I would be and I hope you understand why. It is because, in the short time I have lived, I’ve been given freely what others search their whole lives for. I have a loving mother and father who have given me everything I wanted, materialistically, and have also given me everything I needed; morals, values, understanding and character. I have grown up in that manner, conceited and selfish to an extent but I don’t blame you because from it I have found what I was missing and in that found who I was missing.
Asia I loved you with all my heart. I know you may hate me after and I don’t know what else to say that can make you feel any better. I know you feel that I have abandoned you, left you alone and took what I shouldn’t have but I know that you wouldn’t want an apology from me. You will move on, that I am sure, and you will then realise who the Sakura tree really was and who the hill was all along. It will take some time but I will not be here for you to tell me. Therefore know that I knew all along. I love you.
Finally to you all I meant all that I said. I meant all that I did in this life and leave it with no regrets. But I know you all will share some regrets or guilt over what has come to pass but I need you to let go and move on. I loved you and you loved me. You’re still here so live and laugh like you did when I was here. Don’t forget me but don’t dwell on me.
Yours forever,
Uri Brown
I smiled and tears fell from Mr and Mrs Brown’s eyes. I walk towards them and went straight into their open arms. Life was strange but it was worth living, no matter how much loss or gain you get from it. I understood that now and I think Uri understood that too.
