The sun shone beautifully giving it's final rays of the day as it set over the horizon, painting the sky a beautiful orange hue. The air was still and the birds were singing their final songs of the day in an almost melodious harmony.
The snow from the night before melted away under the brightness slowly becoming one with the plants.
Philip gave a sad sigh as he adjusted his hat to shield his eyes from the final rays of the day.
He closed his eyes reminiscing on the first time his father brought him to the spot he currently stood.
"Dad what are we doing here?", he had asked his father.
"We spend so much time with our technological devices. It has become a kind of god. We have forgotten what it is like to just exist with nature"
He could remember not really caring about what his father was saying. All he wanted to do was get back home to play his video games. After all it was weekend.
His father looked down at him, "You've not be listening to a word I've been saying, have you?"
He had smiled sheepishly.
"Well I said we're going to sit on the warm grass and just observe nature"
And they did. He sat there for hours just listening to his father talk.
Philip sighed again. What he would give to go back to that that moment. What he would give to have his father talk to him about nature one last time.
He stared at the Jar in his hand. He closed his eyes, a single tear falling.
"To get it right you have to put just the right amount of pressure". He tried again but just like the last five times he failed.
His father had sat behind him placing his hands on his. Together they moulded the jar. He was no expert but it would say it turned out pretty well. After heating it abd letting it set, his father had showed him how to paint on it. He ended up ruining the jar with his horrible painting but his father had only smiled and called it perfect.
It was almost time, the set would soon fully set.
The last thing his father had said to him the first time he brought him here was, "When I die I want my ashes scattered right here on this spot. So I would be one with mother nature".
He looked at the sun one more time hoping to prolong it's stay.
"You can't stop nature", his father's voice whispered in his head.
Slowly he turned the cover, he took a deep breath then he sprayed his father's ash into the air fulfilling a wish he didn't know he had subconsciously made a promise to keep. He watched as the wind carried the ash away and he felt a sense of peace wash upon him.
He would never see his father again this he knew but he felt assured that his father's spirit would always be with him and all he needed to do was to learn how to be more open to nature.
Philip watched as the sun set finally, and the sky slowly darkened. He removed his hat. He could feel the warmth of the sun on his skin and the cool breeze blowing through his hair. He took a deep breath and savored the moment.
He would miss his father dearly but at least he had enough memories to last him a lifetime and that alone was more than what he could ask for.