A special gift
by Belladonna

When my David told me that he wanted to join the police academy to become a policeman like his father I wasn't happy with this.
For good reasons.

I pleaded with him, begged him to choose something else. I had already lost my husband, his father to this job, I didn't want to lose him as well and have to live with the fear again that one day the call would come. The call I had been dreading and where somebody I'd never met would tell me that my Davey had been killed.

But he was determined to become a cop, to make a difference and help others. I knew it tore him apart, he didn't want to do this without my consent for his choice. I couldn't bear to see him unhappy so I had relented and given him my blessing.

And now I am so proud sitting here in the audience and watching him there, standing with his classmates, in his dress uniform and with such a happy smile on his face. I've never seen him this happy before and I realized that he really could do it, make that difference he had wanted with his choice.

Still, I can't help it, I feel a great sadness and pain in my heart when I look at him. He looks so much like his father, the same light in his eyes and the same determination.

For his graduation I've decided to give him something special. I will give him his father's rings to wear however he likes to. I know he'll hold them dear and they will serve as a reminder for him to be careful when he goes out there, not to take any unnecessary risks.
They should always be there to remind him of his own mortality.