The Second Childhood - 7 of #Seven Ages

Last scene of all, 

That ends this strange eventful history, 

Is second childishness and mere oblivion, 

Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Source: myanimelist

He lifted his heavy eyelids very slowly, as though it was too stressful a task. Sunlight was flooding the room. He realized that he had fallen asleep midway through something. But what? Though his vision was blurred, it was just enough to tell him that someone was asleep on his lap. His grandson.

His quivering fingers gently stroked the young dark hair, recalling for a moment how he once had the same. The muscles on his face stressed to pull a smile, but his wrinkles seemed to get in the way. He contented himself by merely smiling from the inside.

“Daddy, you’re awake.” His daughter called out, and she was smiling. “The little guy’s grown up ain’t he?” she said, patting her son. “Mmh.” Her father managed to say, hoping she knew he was smiling. She had a tiny cup in hand, filled with some kind of tonic. He still hadn’t gotten used to his medicines, no matter how many times he’s had to have it. He let her feed him nevertheless, more so because he was helpless rather than the need to get better. What was the point anyway? His time was now close.

He did nothing, said very little, and was flopped in a chair all day. Lost in a world of his own that he himself couldn’t remember later on, his life revolved around the small moments spent with his children. Helplessness wasn’t the word he preferred, he liked to think of it instead as peacefulness.

The party was soon joined by his son as well. They laughed away like any other day, and he was content despite the pain in his chest. If not his physical body, at least his soul did heal. The drowsiness was creeping back into him, now overpowering what little energy he held.

Slowly, he crossed into oblivion. He was peaceful, and he was content. Maybe his face did not show it, but he was smiling at the time. It wasn’t the end after all, for a cycle has no beginning nor end, and such was life.

He lived in mind more than body, 

His smile was sound more than sorry. 

His final age  now at its brink, 

The world he left was his last link. 

***

                                      

This post is the last of a seven part series on the Seven Ages of Man (from Shakespeare's 'As You Like It')

Read all Seven Posts -

1. The Infant
2. The School Boy
3. The Lover
4. The Soldier
5. The Justice
6. The Pantaloon
7. The Second Childhood

Linking with Write Tribe's Festival of Words for a Seven Day Blogging Challenge.