I’m shaking as I write this, my skin burning from endless crying. Who can I turn to? The guilt is crushing me. Dad, if you’re watching from above, please forgive me. I’m Peter, and this secret, this choice, it’s eating me alive. This is the story that will haunt me until my dying breath.

Cancer. One word of a diagnosis that tore my world apart.

My Dad Barney was all I had ever since I clutched onto his little finger at Mom’s funeral when I was five. Dad had been my pillar every step of the way.

At 75, he was such a strong man until his cancer diagnosis. It was like they dropped a bomb in our lives.

I stared at the calendar on my kitchen wall, each day marked off with a shaky red X. Counting down the days until… I couldn’t even finish the thought.

My wife Lara walked in, concern etched on her face. “Peter? You okay, honey?”

I wiped my eyes quickly, but my voice still cracked. “Yeah, just thinking about Dad. It’s hitting me hard today.”

She wrapped her arms around me. “Oh, Peter. I know it’s tough. Your Dad is such an amazing man. Remember when he taught Damien how to ride a bike? The way his eyes lit up with pride.”

I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. “He was always there for us, wasn’t he? God, Lara, I don’t know how to do this. How to say goodbye.”

My mind was already drifting back to that day in the hospital room when I met Dad.

The antiseptic smell of the hospital burned my nostrils as I walked into Dad’s room. He looked so small in that big bed, hooked up to all those machines.

But when he saw me, his face lit up with that bright smile.

“There’s my boy,” he said, his voice weaker than I remembered.

I sat down next to him, taking his hand. It felt papery and fragile in mine. “How are you feeling today, Dad?” I forced a small voice.

He chuckled, then winced. “Oh, you know. Like a million bucks. Minus about nine hundred ninety-nine thousand!”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Even now, he was trying to keep my spirits up.

“Dad, you don’t have to put on a brave face for me,” I said softly. “It’s okay to not be okay.”

His eyes misted over. “I know, son. But seeing you smile, it’s the best medicine I could ask for. You’ve always been my greatest joy, you know that?”

We talked for a while, reminiscing about fishing trips and backyard barbecues. Lara and my son Damien joined us, filling the room with warmth and laughter.

After a while, Dad’s eyes met mine. “Peter, can we talk privately for a minute?”

My stomach clenched, but I nodded. Lara ushered Damien out, leaving us alone.

Dad’s grip on my hand tightened. “Peter, will you do something for me? It’s important.”

“Yes, Dad…” I answered, choking back tears. “Anything. You know that.”

He reached for something on his bedside table, his movements slow and pained.

“I want you to play this video at my funeral, in front of our entire family. It’s very important, something everyone should know. Will you do this, son?”

He handed me a small camcorder, his eyes pleading. I could see the desperation there and the need for this final request to be fulfilled.

I swallowed hard, fighting back the urge to break down. “Of course, Dad. I promise. I’ll make sure everyone sees it.”

Relief cloaked his face, and for a moment, he looked like his old self again. “Thank you, son. I love you. You’ve always been the one I could count on.”

We hugged, and I felt his fragile body in my arms.

It was our last embrace, and I tried to memorize every detail — the feel of his thinning hair against my cheek, the scent of his aftershave mixed with hospital antiseptic.

“I love you too, Dad,” I whispered. “More than you’ll ever know.”

The next day, Dad slipped away peacefully in his sleep. I was numb as I made the funeral arrangements, going through the motions like a robot.

The coffin arrived, smelling of flowers and scented candles, and the sight of my family dressed somberly ached my heart, knowing that Dad was gone, happily united with his sweetheart in heaven.

As the funeral preparations were almost ready, I decided to watch the video Dad had wanted me to play first.

Not that I doubted his intentions as he was such a sweet man. But I was just curious and afraid that I’d lose control of my emotions during the funeral and start crying.

So, alone in the quiet of my living room, I took Dad’s camcorder and hit play.

Dad’s face filled the screen, looking tired but determined. He started with thanks and memories, his words making me smile through my tears.

“Hello, everyone. If you’re watching this, I guess I’ve finally kicked the bucket,” he began, his familiar humor shining through. “First off, I want to thank you all for being a part of my life. The memories we’ve shared. They’ve been the greatest gift a man could ask for.”

But then, his tone changed. His eyes hardened, and he cleared his throat.

“But I’m here, not just to say goodbye, but to tell the truth. For the past few years, ever since I was diagnosed with cancer, all of you have been so mean and ignorant.”

I froze, unable to believe what I was hearing. This couldn’t be my Dad, the man who’d raised me with nothing but love and kindness.

But he continued, his words growing harsher with each passing moment.

He accused family members of lies, of abandonment, of using him. It was like listening to a stranger wearing my father’s face.

“You were all vultures, waiting for me to die,” he spat. “The only ones who genuinely cared were Peter, Lara, and my grandson. The rest of you can go to hell. And stop being fake, at least after I’m gone.”

The video ended, and I sat in stunned silence, my mind reeling. How could I possibly show this to everyone? It would destroy them and tarnish every good memory they had of Dad.

Tears streamed down my face as I rewound the video, watching it again and again, searching for any sign of the loving father I knew. But all I saw was bitterness and anger.

I don’t know how long I sat there, trying to process what I’d just seen and heard. The sound of Lara’s footsteps snapped me back to reality.

“Peter? What are you doing up so late?”

I quickly turned off the camcorder, forcing a smile. “Just looking at some old videos of Dad. Couldn’t sleep.”

She sat down next to me, rubbing my back. “Do you want to talk about it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I shook my head, the weight of my secret already crushing me as we headed to our bedroom.

“No, I’m okay. Just remembering. It’s hard, you know? Seeing him like that, knowing I’ll never hear his voice again.”

“I know, honey. Your Dad was such a great man. We were all lucky to have him in our lives.”

As she headed back to bed, I stared at the camcorder, my mind racing. I couldn’t let his last words be that. It wasn’t who he really was. It couldn’t be.

With a heavy heart, I made my decision. I would edit the video and keep only the good parts that showed the man we all loved.

As I set to work, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was betraying my father’s last wish. But I knew, deep down, that I was protecting his true legacy of love, not bitterness.

The day of the funeral arrived, gray and somber. As I stood at the front of the church, the modified video ready to play, my heart raced.

Uncle Dave approached me, his eyes red-rimmed. “You okay, Pete? You look like you’re about to be sick.”

I forced a smile. “Yeah, just, you know. It’s hard. I keep expecting Dad to walk through those doors, tell us this was all a bad joke.”

Uncle Dave nodded, clapping me on the shoulder. “I know what you mean. Your old man was one in a million. We’re all gonna miss him. He always knew how to light up a room, didn’t he?”

As he walked away, guilt twisted in my chest. If only he knew what Dad had really said about him and everyone else.

The service began, and before I knew it, it was time for the video. My palms were sweaty as I pressed play.

Dad’s face appeared on the screen, and a collective gasp went through the crowd. He looked tired but happy, his eyes twinkling with that familiar light.

“Hello, everyone,” he began. “If you’re watching this, I guess I’ve finally kicked the bucket…”

A few chuckles rippled through the audience.

Dad continued, his voice warm and full of love. “I just wanted to say thank you. To all of you. For the laughs, the memories, the love. You’ve made my life rich beyond measure. Each one of you has touched my heart in ways I can never fully express.”

I watched as people wiped their eyes, smiling through their tears.

This was the Dad they knew, the Dad I knew. The real Dad, not the angry, bitter man from the unedited video.

As the video ended with Dad’s “goodbye” I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. I’d made the right choice. Hadn’t I?

After the service, Aunt Sarah hugged me tight, her body shaking with sobs. “That was beautiful, Peter. Your father, he really loved us all, didn’t he? I’ll never forget his kindness, his laughter.”

I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat as we headed to the cemetery.

As everyone paid their last respects, sharing stories and memories of Dad, I approached the casket, placing my hand on the smooth wood.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I hope you understand why I did it. I love you. I’ll always love you, no matter what.”

Weeks have passed, but the weight of my decision still sits heavy on my chest. Each night, I lie awake, replaying that video in my mind.

I hope that somewhere, somehow, Dad understands and forgives me.

But I know this is a secret I’ll take to my grave, forever questioning if I made the right choice. Did I preserve his true legacy, or did I deny him his final truth? The question haunts me, and I know it always will.

Here’s another story: My dream apartment turned into a house of horrors when I started receiving anonymous threatening notes. Little did I know my life was never going to be the same.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.