THE LAST VOICE MAIL

The phone rang once and stopped.

Daniel opened his eyes immediately. Everywhere looks dark and quiet in his room. He quickly checked time on his phone, and it was 2 a.m. His heart started beating fast. He felt something is wrong even though he doesn't know what it is.

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He took his phone from the table and saw it was a missed called. He opened it and saw it was his mother's number

His mother died few months back

Danie stared at the screen full of surprise. He clearly remembered everything that happened at the funeral. The prayers. The long walk away from the grave. He had told himself he was okay. That life had to move on.

Then he saw it.

One new voice mail.

He pressed the play button and his hand was shaking.

At first, there was nothing. Just silence. Then he heard a breath. Soft. Weak.

“Daniel… it’s me.”

Her voice.

Real. Clear.

He came down from his bed and sat down on the floor. He moved close to the wall and lean on it. His eyes were already heavy with tears, but he couldn't stop it.

She said "The network here is bad, I don't know if this message will get to you. But I wanted to talk to you.”

He could picture her. The small hospital room. The white walls. The machines nearby. He should have been there. He knew that now.

“I know you're always busy" she continues "you're always busy with something. Even when you were young.”

She paused. Then gave a small tired laugh.

“I am always proud of you" she said. “Even if I forget to tell you sometimes”

Daniel closed his eyes. Tears rolled down his face.

He argued with his mom the last time they spoke. He was stressed. She asked him to come so they can see. Daniel told her later. He thought later would come.

But it never.

"I am very sorry" his mother said. “I pushed you too hard sometimes. I thought I was helping you grow. I didn’t know it made you feel alone.”

His tears dropped on the ground

Grace, his mother raised him alone without the help of anybody, Grace worked everyday to put food on the table. She loved his son so much even if he never said it out.

"I was never afraid" she said “That surprised me. I thought I would be. But I feel calm.”

A soft beeping sound came through the message.

“Daniel, you are not a failure,” she said. “I know you think you are. But you’re not. You did your best. You still are.”

Daniel pressed his hand to his mouth. His shoulders shook as he cried.

The pain inside him was heavy. It was regret. For calls he ignored. For visits he delayed. For thinking he had more time.

“If you’re hearing this,” she continued, “then I’m probably gone. And that’s okay.”

Her voice grew softer.

"I will always love and be with you even though and dead" she said

She took a slow breath.

“I want you to live fully,” she said. “Not just wake up and go through the day. Live. Laugh. Love people. Forgive yourself.”

The message went quiet. Daniel thought it was over. His heart felt empty.

Then her voice came back, very weak now.

“One last thing.”

“Yes am listening" he whispered

"Always tell people what is in your mind" she said"don't keep quiet".

There was a pause.

“I love you, my son,” she said. “Always.”

The message ended.

Daniel continued to sit on the floor as tears rolled down his eyes. Daniel cried deeply for the things he didn't say. For the chances he missed. For the time he thought he had.

As the night slowly passed, something changed inside him. The pain didn’t disappear. But it felt lighter. Like it was teaching him something.

The room became bright when morning came. He got up and cleaned his face. He took the mirror and looked at himself. His eyes are swollen and red because of last night.

He backed up the voice mail and save it

Then he opened his contacts.

He paused for a second.

Then he called.

“Hello?” someone answered.

Daniel said "Hello dear, I just wanted to hear from you"

Later that day, Daniel made many calls. To family. To old friends. He said sorry where he needed to. He spoke honestly. Each call felt like setting something down.

That same day in the evening Daniel went to his mom's grave. He stood quietly and played the voice mail again.

"I heard what you said last night" Daniel whispered

The trees branches move as the wind blow

Daniel left the grave with tears. But his mind was filled with peace.

Some voices don’t fade.

They stay with us, long after the call ends.