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“He’s not doing well, honey,” she says, her voice filled with sadness.
“Mom, please, tell me what’s going on.” My voice cracks as I sit down next to her.
My mom fumbles with her fingers, her face reflecting worry and deep concern. “His cancer has made him weaker, and he’s in the hospital.”
I don’t say anything for a moment.
“Honey?” My mom’s voice breaks through my thoughts, bringing me back to the present. “Honey, I know it’s hard to hear,” she says softly, reaching out to hold my hand.
Tears well up in my eyes, but I blink them back, trying to stay strong. “How long does he have?” I ask, my voice trembling.
My mom takes a deep breath, her eyes filled with both pain and determination. “A few weeks, maybe,” she reveals. “The doctors say there isn’t anything they can do. They can only help him be more comfortable.”
I nod, trying to absorb the information. “We have to be there for him, Mom. He’s always been there for us.”
She squeezes my hand gently and nods.
A mix of emotions courses through me—fear of what lies ahead, determination to support my dad, and a desire to reciprocate the love and support my parents have shown me.
Taking a deep breath, I wipe away a stray tear and stand up. “I don’t think I can deal with this right now. Scar, can we go out tonight?” I ask.
Scarlett looks at me with a frown. “Sure.”
“Hailey, please,” my mom calls after me.
“Mom, I can’t talk about this right now, please.”
She looks at me, tears in her eyes, and nods.
CHAPTERSIX
I stagger into the house.The night out with Scarlett helped to numb the pain, but I can still feel it bubbling below the surface. A mix of anger and pain still flows through me. It’s hard to fathom the reality before me. The person who showed me genuine fatherly love is now slipping away from this world, and I feel powerless. My entire world is collapsing, and I’m struggling to process the gravity of this news.
I toss my phone onto the coffee table, lie on the couch, and close my eyes. What did I ever do to the world for it to go against me?
As I close my eyes and rest my head, I finally fall asleep.
* * *
My phone pingsand wakes me up. I roll over and face the backside of the couch to avoid my phone when it pings again.
What the fuck.Frustrated, I flip back over and grab my phone from the coffee table.
Dad
Why won’t you ever text me back?
Here we go again.
Dad
Hello? I’m your father!
Text me back!
I am saved from having to respond by a knock at my door. I sigh with relief and set my phone back on the table. As I make my way through the hallway, I see my mom through the window. She looks distraught. She walks in as I open the door and whips around to look at me. I close the door before facing her.
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
