𝓕𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕-𝒎𝒆-𝒏𝒐𝒕

𝓒𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝓣𝒘𝒐

It had been a week since Sam had cleared out her father's house and almost four weeks since the funeral. Pulling her station wagon up into the Cemetery parking lot she took the flowers from the passenger seat and got out of the car. She rested the flowers on the roof and took a moment to straighten herself up before grabbing the flight jacket and putting it on. She locked up the car and then took the flowers from the roof before slowly making her way through the cemetery.

It was very early in the morning and the sun was just starting to climb over the hills in the distance as Sam stopped in front of one of the graves. "Hey Mom and Dad. It looks like it's going to be a nice day today." She rested the flowers down between the two graves and sat herself down on the grass. "Yes I know I'm going to get a wet ass but I don't care." Sam looked at the headstone and was pleased to see that her father's details had now been added to her mother's. "So how are you two getting along. I know it's been a while since you shared a bed but hopefully it's all good." She tried to keep the mood light but it was impossible. "I miss you Dad." She rested her hand down on his grave and let the tears flow.

❧

When the drunk driver hit their car it had taken the rescue services a couple of hours to cut her father free and the whole time Sam had been held back from him even though she could hear him calling for her. Sometimes at night she would hear him again and more than once she had woken up in a cold sweat.

Once her father was finally free the paramedics had quickly taken him. Sam had travelled in the ambulance with him and held his hand while they worked however at the hospital she was again told to stay out of the way. A nurse had led her to a waiting room and she had spent several hours pacing away in it. The sound of her boots clicking on the linoleum flooring was the only sound in the room. At one point the cops had turned up and taken a statement from her but it was an open and shut case. The drunk driver was at fault and he had died in the accident. Case closed. They left and Sam was alone once more. She stared at the off white walls and tried to think positive thoughts but it was hopeless. Her mind kept going to the worst possible outcome.

It was another hour before the surgeon came in to talk to her. He explained that her father was now in the Intensive Care ward and that with time he would be fine. The relief washed over Sam and she collapsed into a chair, silently sending a prayer of thanks skyward.

A short time later a nurse appeared and took her to see her father. All the machines, wires and tubes were a shock to her but the nurse took the time to explain everything to Sam and soon she was sat beside her father's bed, holding his hand and softly talking to him. She had seen this man every day of her life but suddenly he looked so old and frail and it scared her. Both her parents had been only children so she had no Aunts or Uncles to call and all her grandparents had passed on. Her father was the only relative she had. She didn't even have a boyfriend she could call for support. She had been so obsessed with joining the Air Force that men had completely slipped off her horizon. There had been a couple of boys in High School but apart from a little kissing nothing had ever happened. Most of the boys were put off by her tomboy appearance. Sam had spent her prom night watching movies with her father and she couldn't have been happier about it. But now she wished she had someone to hold her and let her know everything would be okay.

For three days and nights Sam sat by her father's bed waiting for him to wake up. She would only leave to shower and change before she would return again. It was the early hours of the morning when a few of the machines started to make a noise waking Sam from her sleep in the chair next to his bed. Several nurses ran in and when Sam looked over at her father she was surprised to see him awake and looking at her. "Daddy." She pushed past one of the nurses and took hold of her father's hand. "I'm here Daddy. You're okay." She kissed his fingers and smiled at him.