9بخش

I couldn’t tell where heaven stopped and the earth began.

It was so beautiful.

I wish I could’ve been there with you.

You were.

I love you.

You died on a Saturday morning.

And I had you placed here under our tree.

And I had that house of your father’s bulldozed to the ground.

Mama always said that dying was a part of life.

I sure wish it wasn’t.

Little Forrest is doing just fine.

But—

About to start school again soon, and I make his breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.

I make sure he combs his hair and brushes his teeth every day.

Teaching him how to play Ping-Pong.

Okay.

He’s really good.

Forrest, you go.

We fish a lot.

And every night, we read a book.

He’s so smart, Jenny.

You’d be so proud of him.

I am.

He wrote you a letter.

And he says I can’t read it.

I’m not supposed to, so I’ll just leave it here for you.

Jenny, I don’t know if Mama was right, or if it’s Lieutenant Dan.

I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze.

But I think maybe it’s both.

Maybe both is happening at the same time.

But I miss you, Jenny.

If there’s anything you need, I won’t be far away.

Here’s your bus.

Okay.

Hey.

I know this.

I’m gonna show that for show-and-tell because Grandma used to read it to you.

My favorite book.

Here we are.

Okay.

Here you go.

Hey, Forrest, don’t—

I wanted to tell you, I love you.

I love you, too, Daddy.

I’ll be right here when you get back.

You understand this is the bus to school, now, don’t you?

Of course, and you are Dorothy Harris, and I’m Forrest Gump.