Drake: softly Dad, why didn't you tell me about Aunt Clara?
WhimsicalMountain
Well, Drake… Aunt Clara was a bit of a complicated… individual.
Complicated? What are you hiding from me, Dad? What happened to Aunt Clara? Why didn't you tell me?
WhimsicalMountain
well, you see, your mom and I made a pact to keep the past… well, in the past.
narrows his eyes, his voice firm No more secrets, Dad. I deserve to know the truth about my family, no matter how painful it might be.
WhimsicalMountain
you know, i was a different man back then. much more reckless… and a bit of a troublemaker… the kind of person who would get into… trouble and… hurt people… and, well, i was at a much more reckless place in my life when i was younger… we were all trying to make it by doing what we could. i was always trying to look after you… i won’t apologize for what i did, but i will apologize for not telling you about it. i guess i was just trying to protect you from the ugly parts of the past…
takes a deep breath, his voice steady I understand, Dad. You were just trying to do what you thought was best for our family.
WhimsicalMountain
no. not really. i did it because i loved you and wanted to keep you safe and give you the best future possible. i felt like i had to make sacrifices for that. i don’t think you should feel any malice or blame towards me for it. i hope you don’t. i’d do anything for you.
puts a hand on his father's shoulder Thank you, Dad. I appreciate your honesty, even if it's difficult to hear. Let's focus on moving forward together.
WhimsicalMountain
thank you, son. i love you very much.
stands tall, his voice filled with determination I love you too, Dad. And I promise to always be there for you, no matter what.
WhimsicalMountain
i’ll be waiting for you.
turns to his father with a small smile Dad, do you know what they say about family secrets? They say it's like taking a bandage off a wound.
WhimsicalMountain
yeah… that’s true… it brings things to light so we can heal. i think that’s what we’re doing right now, healing.
Exactly, Dad. And it's not easy, but it's necessary. We need to face our past to move forward.
WhimsicalMountain
well, i’m glad we’re doing it together. i know it’s been hard, but it’s also been… cleansing.
puts his arm around his father's shoulders I couldn't agree more, Dad. It's been tough, but it's also brought us closer together.
WhimsicalMountain
it has. i think that’s why aunt clara wanted us to meet… she knew that these past few years had been… difficult for both of us. and she wanted us to heal from it.
gently squeezes his father's shoulder Thank you, Dad, for being so understanding and accepting. I'm proud to call you my father.
WhimsicalMountain
i’m proud to call you my son, drake.
takes a deep breath, his voice steady Dad, I've been thinking a lot lately. I want to find a way to honor Aunt Clara's memory.
WhimsicalMountain
i’d love to do that with you, drake. what ideas do you have?
smiles warmly Well, Dad, I've always had a passion for music. How about we create a memorial concert in Aunt Clara's honor?
WhimsicalMountain
that’s a great idea! we could have some of the biggest names in music come out to support it. and we could donate the proceeds to a charity in her name.
nods enthusiastically That's a fantastic idea, Dad! We could also include a special performance by a local musician, someone who truly embodies Aunt Clara's spirit.
WhimsicalMountain
i think that would be a great idea! we could involve the whole community, have them vote for their favorite local musicians. it would be a great way to celebrate her life and give back to the community.
stands up, his voice filled with determination Alright, Dad. Let's start planning this memorial concert. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I know we can make it happen.
WhimsicalMountain
absolutely, drake. let’s do this.
immediately pulls out a notebook and pen Alright, Dad. First things first, we need to find a venue that can accommodate a large audience.
WhimsicalMountain
i know of a venue down by the beach. it’s got an amazing sound system and a large stage. it would be perfect!
starts making phone calls Great, Dad. I'll contact the venue and book it for the date we have in mind.
WhimsicalMountain
and i’ll start reaching out to some of the biggest names in music to see if they’ll perform at our event.
hangs up the phone, his voice filled with excitement Dad, I've booked the venue! It's all set for the date we discussed.
WhimsicalMountain
fantastic! i’ve gotten in touch with a few artists and they’re interested in performing. i’m going to set up some meetings with them to discuss the details.
grabs his guitar and starts strumming a soft melody You know, Dad, music has always been our family's passion.
WhimsicalMountain
it has, son. your grandmother, aunt clara, and i all had a passion for music. it’s how we connected and shared our love.
pauses, his voice filled with emotion Dad, do you ever miss them? I mean, I miss them every day. It's like there's this void in my heart that can never be filled.
WhimsicalMountain
yes, drake, i do. but i have you. they may be gone, but their love and memories live on in you. and i know they’d be very proud of you.
takes a deep breath, his voice barely above a whisper Dad, I've been thinking a lot lately. There's something I haven't told you...
WhimsicalMountain
what is it, drake?
pauses, searching for the right words Dad, the night before Aunt Clara passed away... she asked me to keep searching for the truth about my real mother.
WhimsicalMountain
i… i knew that she had asked you that. i promised you that i wouldn’t hold it against you if you wanted to keep searching… i’ll support you in any way that i can.
takes a deep breath, his voice filled with determination Dad, thank you for understanding. I want to find my real mother.
WhimsicalMountain
then let’s do it. i’ll be right there with you, drake.
immediately pulls out a map and starts marking potential locations Alright, Dad. We need to start our search somewhere. Let's focus on the areas where I have the most connections to my real mother.
WhimsicalMountain
points to several spots marked on the map i’ve got a few ideas, drake. there are a few places that were significant to your grandmother and aunt clara.
quickly grabs his car keys Dad, let's hit the road and start our search. We need to uncover every clue we can find.
WhimsicalMountain
sounds good, drake. let’s go.
begins typing furiously on his laptop Dad, I'm researching online, looking for any information that might lead us to my real mother.