ETERNAL REGRET

NEXT DAY:

AT THE FUNERAL:

The school arranged a special funeral service for the

brave soul of the victim Joshua A.J. Marshall who lost his life in

the shootout. The entire police department and the school

parents along with the children of the school were present for

the funeral. The police fired three shots as a gesture of respect

for the yet another brave soul lost, in the school shooting

pandemic. It started to heavily pour suddenly. Everybody were

saddened by the unfortunate series of events and for Joshua's

repose. Steve performed his final rites and cremated Joshua by

burying him with the same hands that shot the poor soul. Steve

was dead inside and broke down after cremating him. Martha

hugged him and everybody left the funeral including Martha to give some time

alone for Steve to mourn. Steve stood next to Joshua's grave, and was regretting his

entire life. He takes the rusted knife, he had in his pocket and

stabs himself in the chest and cuts his veins as he wants to

experience a slow and painful death after the unforgivable sin

he had just committed. Steve gently lies down next to his son's

grave and places the blood - stained kerchief over Joshua's grave.

He finally closes his eyes and accepts death. He is seconds away

from his death and he sees his life all over again. He is filled with

tears as he remembers the first time he met his wife, Joshua's

birth, his first steps, his first words and the beautiful bond he

shared with his son. He felt his soul was closing towards his

death and at that moment, the last thing he sees. is the police

shootout he committed 30 years ago, with flashes of the dead

bodies of his mother, father, the four innocent victims and

finally he sees the dead body of his son. He passes away soon

and the blood from his wounds mix with the rain and appears

as a blood bath around his son's grave. Steve dies next to his son,

finally dying a broken man with nothing but regret and guilt for

everything he ever did. Steve failed as a father and took the leap

of faith which ended up with the death of his own father,

mother, four innocent people and finally the little sunshine of

his life, Joshua.

THE END.

BY,

ROSHAN JAMAL.