“Hi daddy.”

........................

‘I couldn’t, but I have to.’

I didn’t have the strength to sit beside my father, his weakened state caused me to stay far away as possible. I was in disbelief, never in my life would I have imagined myself in this heart wrenching situation. I lean my back against the wall across from the foot of his bed and began to scan his features. He was unrecognizable. His head was bandaged up and you could still see  the blood seeping through the gauze. I whimper slightly feeling my tears threatening to fall out of my eyes at the sight of his now skinny figure that was covered in bruises. His lips were pale and chapped, with a slight cut on the bottom lip. How badly I wanted to see his teasing smirk. His once rosy cheeks were now pale as snow, he seemed lifeless, but he wasn’t. His big doe eyes that I loved was completely shut, no movement under his eyelids. 

I grit my teeth as I force myself off the wall and make my way to the side of his bed. I could feel my heart pound so loud that if the sounds of the monitor was completely off, the sound of my heart would echo through out the room. 

Standing beside my father, and seeing his weak figure up close causes my body to tremble and my breathing to grow heavier. I hesitantly reach my hand towards his hand but instantly freeze. I clench my eyes tight and take in a deep shakey breath before opening them again. I hold my breath as I begin to place my hand on his and instantly whimper at the feeling of his cold skin. Tears were now cascading down my cheeks, I was biting my lip so hard that I started to taste my own blood. 

‘Please hold my hand,’

I begin to let out a quiet sob as I begin to realize that this isn’t a dream, it’s real. The thought that there might be chance that I will never see his dorky smile or his big brown eyes anymore causes me to hyperventilate in distress. And with that thought I instantly pull my hand away as if his hand was on fire and abruptly stand up. Without wiping my tears I quickly rush out of the room no longer being able to hand this awful scene. 

Exiting the room I instantly feel myself collide with a tiny figure causing them to drop whatever they were holding. I was about to apologize, but recognizing the scent and the warmth I quickly embrace their waist tightly. I begin to let out a loud sob as I begin to feel them embrace my trembling figure back,

“Shhh Lisa, it’s okay, I’m here” Jennie softly whispers in my ear as she begins to caress the back of my head. With a shakey voice I begin to quietly say,

“I..I couldn’t do it, I thought I c..could, but it hurts so much-“ she cuts me off,

“I’m here, okay? You’re not alone this time.” She reassures me. She pulls back and places her soft hands on my cheek and softly places her lips on my quivering lips. I sigh in her lips, feeling my body begin to soften. It’s insane how she can affect me this much with just one touch. She pulls away and looks deeply into my eyes,

“Go back inside Lisa-“ I cut her off by furiously shaking my head no,

“I..I can’t-“ she cuts me off,

“I’ll go with you okay? I won’t let you do this alone.” I was about to say no again but she quickly cuts me off,

“If you don’t, you might regret it Lis,” she pulls  away and begins to walk towards the door, she turns around and smiles softly at my frozen figure. She extends her hands towards me,

“Come on.” I fidget in my stance, contemplating if I should. But the pain in my chest returns, knowing I will absolutely regret it. I take in a shakey breath and place my trembling hands in Jennie’s soft tiny hands. I look at her and slowly nod causing a soft smile to appear on her face.  She squeezes my hands tightly and begins to pull me inside with her towards my dads room.

Entering the room I feel her stiffen slightly as she begins to scan my fathers unrecognizable figure. She quickly shakes it off and pulls me towards the seats that’s beside my father. We both slowly sit down on the chair, refusing to let each others hands go. I feel my heart begin to ache once again, causing my tears to continue cascade down my cheeks rapidly. Hearing my quiet cries, Jennie quickly intertwines our hands and tightens it, reassuring that I’m not alone. I close my eyes tight and face away from the bed, refusing to gaze at him again. 

“Hello sir, it’s Jennie,” hearing her voice I instantly open my eyes and quickly turn my head to look at her. She was smili