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6. Thankful
Hunter woke up with a start when the door to his dad's hospital room creaked open. He thought it might be his mother, but it was Daryl.
"You're really getting some great use out of that motel room we got," Daryl said sarcastically. "You haven't left his bedside since we got here."
"I guess I'm used to it," Hunter said sleepily.
"Has mom been in at all?"
"Couple of times. Once after Thanksgiving dinner. Then on Saturday. Said fighting the crowds at Wal-Mart kept her from coming on Friday."
"Has he woken up at all?"
"No. The nurses said it was touch and go. Mom's gonna have to make the call to pull the plug soon."
"Tell her to mind her own fucking business," came a crackly voice from the bed. "I'm going on my own terms."
Hunter and Daryl were in too much shock to say anything. Hunter grabbed his dad's hand and his dad squeezed it back.
"You making something about your life, boy?" he asked Hunter.
"Yes sir," Hunter managed. "I'm bartending. Saving up to go to school."
"Good. That's good. Still queer?"
"Yes sir."
"That's alright too, I suppose. I'm just... I'm glad that I got to see the man you turned out to be. Before... " Daryl stepped up cautiously. Their father gave him the once over. "Well, I see someone dressed down for the occasion."
"Hi dad," Daryl said, avoiding eye contact.
"Daryl... I... I'm sorry."
And Daryl broke down weeping. Hunter reached out to him but he was inconsolable and ran out of the room.
"Will you stay with me?" he asked Hunter. "Just... stay with me until I fall back asleep."
"Of course, Dad," Hunter said, gripping his hand. His father shut his eyes and took a peaceful breath. The long beep of the flatlining heart monitor shortly followed. Hunter never let go of his hand, thankful for the chance to say goodbye.
###
Glad to be back for Volume 4! Just joining us? Catch up now:
Volume 1 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five
Volume 2 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five
Volume 3 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five
###
"You're really getting some great use out of that motel room we got," Daryl said sarcastically. "You haven't left his bedside since we got here."
"I guess I'm used to it," Hunter said sleepily.
"Has mom been in at all?"
"Couple of times. Once after Thanksgiving dinner. Then on Saturday. Said fighting the crowds at Wal-Mart kept her from coming on Friday."
"Has he woken up at all?"
"No. The nurses said it was touch and go. Mom's gonna have to make the call to pull the plug soon."
"Tell her to mind her own fucking business," came a crackly voice from the bed. "I'm going on my own terms."
Hunter and Daryl were in too much shock to say anything. Hunter grabbed his dad's hand and his dad squeezed it back.
"You making something about your life, boy?" he asked Hunter.
"Yes sir," Hunter managed. "I'm bartending. Saving up to go to school."
"Good. That's good. Still queer?"
"Yes sir."
"That's alright too, I suppose. I'm just... I'm glad that I got to see the man you turned out to be. Before... " Daryl stepped up cautiously. Their father gave him the once over. "Well, I see someone dressed down for the occasion."
"Hi dad," Daryl said, avoiding eye contact.
"Daryl... I... I'm sorry."
And Daryl broke down weeping. Hunter reached out to him but he was inconsolable and ran out of the room.
"Will you stay with me?" he asked Hunter. "Just... stay with me until I fall back asleep."
"Of course, Dad," Hunter said, gripping his hand. His father shut his eyes and took a peaceful breath. The long beep of the flatlining heart monitor shortly followed. Hunter never let go of his hand, thankful for the chance to say goodbye.
###
Glad to be back for Volume 4! Just joining us? Catch up now:
Volume 1 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five
Volume 2 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five
Volume 3 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five
###
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