I sat in the hallway outside the living room. It was dark out, but I could see the couch where my mother, Angelica, was lying, and my father, next to her, whispering words. They wouldn't tell me what was going on, but then I decided to listen in. I had been told I had nothing to worry about, but a ten-year-old boy like me wasn't useless!

"John. Will you play me that song?" My mother said softly. "The one you used to play all the time."

I heard him mutter something, then sniffle, getting up to go to the piano. He hadn't played in a long time, because he had to work two jobs. He barely got any chance to have time to spend with my mother and me. Soft chords and a melody rang out, while he sang the words.

By the time I was your age, I'd give anything,

To fall in love truly, was all I could think,

That's when I met your mother, the girl of my dreams,

The most beautiful woman, that I'd ever seen.

She said, "Boy can I tell you a wonderful thing?

I can't help but notice, you're staring at me.

I know I shouldn't say this, but I really believe,

I can tell by your eyes that you're in love with me."

Now, son, I'm only telling you this,

Because life can do terrible things.

Now, most of the time we'd have too much to drink,

And we'd laugh at the stars and we'd share everything,

Too young to notice, and too dumb to care,

Love was a story that couldn't compare.

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I said, "Girl, can I tell you a wonderful thing?

I made you a present with paper and string.

Open with care now, I'm asking you, please.

You know that I love you, will you marry me?"

Now, son, I'm only telling you this,

Because life can do terrible things.

You'll learn, one day, I'll hope and I'll pray,

That God shows you differently.

She said, "Boy can I tell you a terrible thing?

It seems that I'm sick and I've only got weeks.

Please, don't be sad now, I really believe,

You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me."

Slow, so slow I fell to the ground on my knees.

So don't fall in love, there's just too much to lose,

If you're given the choice, then I beg you to choose,

To walk away, walk away, don't let her get you.

I can't bear to see the same happen to you.

Now, son, I'm only telling you this,

Because life can do terrible things.

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I had been listening to the lyrics. One thing I noticed was that my father had a very good voice. The other being that my mother was like the woman in the song, my father the singer. She had something wrong with her, being sick or something. He loved her a lot, and now she was being ripped away from her. How come they hadn't told me?

When the song ended, he got up and touched her face, some of his tears dropping on to her. I had never seen him like this. What did we do to deserve this? I felt tears come to my eyes.

He bent down, saying, "You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me."

Uh oh! My father was headed this way! He would know that I'd been watching. I quickly tried to scramble behind the doorframe, but he caught me. Literally, in a hug, his grip hard.

"Tommy," he said into my ear. "Don't fall in love. There's just too much to lose. Son, I'm only telling you this because life can do terrible things." I recognized the lyrics, but he spoke in monotone.

"Daddy. What's gonna happen now?"

"I don't know." He held my face in his hands, then whispered, "You look just like her."

When he left me, my face was wet. I couldn't tell if it was from my tears or his.

Seven years later, he hasn't changed from that night. He never loved another. And I haven't fallen in love either. But that song is like a record, playing over, and over, again.

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