--Alfredo Aguilar Jr.
The most stunning and humble hibiscus flower morphs into a flesh-eating horror,
destroying its own gentleness to feed its craving.
Like an animal in heat powerless to retrain his nature,
he succumbs to temptation.
He trades 25 years worth of marriage vows and respect
for minutes of pleasure with a seducer.
Calling it a “mistake” and admitting to “messing up”
brings no comfort, but rather frustration and confusion.
Blaming it on “stupidity” and the need for “thrill”
reinforces the fact that he is now a stranger to me.
My hero, my strength, my father—
for three years you demolished this ideal into the exact opposite…
a liar, a cheater, and a faker.
With or without a mistress,
I will never look upon him with the same eyes
of gratitude and admiration.
I will never take a pursuer to meet him for his approval.
His advice which was once so enlightened and profound
became words of a fool.
I acknowledge that people make mistakes.
He made countless, each time betraying
the trust of his wife…
disregarding his two sons…
his only daughter the furthest thing from his mind,
while he confessed his love to another woman
with one goal in mind.
Are a lot of men like you?
“They’re worse,” he says.
Do you realize you are everything I
despise in a man?
“Women do it too,” he replies.
The lack of sincerity only fuels my fire of
resentment and bewilderment.
Like you, I cannot say what the future holds,
other than the fact that life presents
new lessons once again—
1. Father doesn’t always know best.
2. Everything isn’t always as it seems.
3. Be aware of the douche bags and assholes.
4. Marriage vows are overrated.
5. Things are easier said than done.
6. You choose your family.
7. Sometimes temptation steals the best of us.
8. Repentance must be genuine.
9. Forgiveness is one of most challenging things to do.
10. Let’s have a toast…
Namaste.
