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I worked my ass off through high school and got perfect grades to make my parents proud, yet they weren't there. They're the only people I wanted to support and cheer me on during my speech, and Leah, my best friend.
Josh, well, he doesn't count; he cheated, but I wasn't in love with him. I know he told me he loved me, but that was to get into my pants. I'd been making him wait for a year and decided to say, Screw it, let him take my V before I go away to college. I should have waited, though, because now I need to go to the doctor. If he's screwing Phoebe, the school's mean girl and slut, then I need to be checked, even if we did use protection.
"Hey, honey."
I furrow my brows when I enter the kitchen and see them sitting at the breakfast bar with coffee.
"Really Momma? Hey honey?" I scowled before looking at her.
My eyes widen before I become instantly still. Her red hair is a mess, while her blue eyes look sad.
My dad clears his throat, and I look at him. I can feel the color drain from my face when I see the bags under my dad's green eyes and his black hair all over the place, and I step forward with worry.
"We're sorry, baby girl. We wanted to be there; I'm so sorry we missed it.
Tears fill his eyes, and my panic builds.
"Daddy?"
My mother lets out a sob before tears fall down her cheeks, and I drop my bag on the floor before rushing over to her, taking her into my arms as she sobs. I look towards my dad to see that his tears have fallen, and my panic instantly builds some more.
Questions start to fill my mind.
Where were they?
What happened today?
Dad gets up and rounds the counter before wrapping his arms around us both while my mother's body shakes with her sobs. I hold her tighter as my dad kisses my head. Worry builds and builds like I'm about to explode.
"Daddy?" I question.
He sniffles before he rasps, tearing my world apart. "I have lung cancer, baby girl. It's where we were today. We didn't want to worry you, so we had Leah record your speech. You did so well, sweetheart, and we're so proud of you."
My tears start to fall, graduation completely forgotten, before I whisper, "How long?"
I'm not stupid; I know the survival rate for lung cancer is low, and even then, there's an expiry date. My grandfather died of it when I was only a toddler, and my grandmother died a year later of a heart attack.
Everyone said it was a broken heart that killed her.
He sniffles again. "Maybe five years, if I'm lucky."
I let out a sob before a scream builds in my chest, making my parents hold onto me tighter as my legs give out, my dad holding me up while my Momma whispers over and over in my ear, "I've got you, baby, I've got you."
Once my tears and screams have calmed down, once I'm only hiccupping, my dad pulls back and cups my cheeks before wiping his thumbs under my eyes, catching the fallen tears. "I know it's hard, baby girl, but we'll get through this, and when I'm gone, you and your momma, you'll get through it because you're both strong." I let out another sob before he wrapped his arms back around me while my mother placed her head against mine.
I clutch onto my father like he's going to disappear while he gently caresses my hair as more sobs escape from my chest.
I can't lose my father; I can't.
My father pulls away again, wiping my tears. "How about a movie?"
I sniffle and nod before he kisses my forehead when the doorbell rings. My Momma lets go of me to answer it, but I just shake my head at her and say, "I've got it, momma." She nods and kisses my forehead while I move towards the front door, wiping my face with my hands.
When I open it, I scowl because seriously?
Josh furrows his brows before putting his hands on his hips. "Look, I, uh, I wanted to make sure we're good, but I guess I hurt you badly, huh?"
Really? I snort before shaking my head at his ego and gripping the door. "Actually, Josh, as far as I'm concerned, I should thank you." He rears his head back in shock, looking confused. "You know, for showing me what a diseased riddle playboy you are."
