On - A Sanders Sides Story

Once

Virgil and his father look at each other, with the rim of the boat between them. Patton stands on the deck of the boat, and Virgil stands on the dock. In the end, Virgil decided to stay.

Patton has already explained it to him the best that he could. Once the ship leaves, Patton will return to the world of the dead, and Virgil will return to the world of the living. It'll be like waking up. Like this was all just a dream after all. Maybe it was. But it doesn't feel that way to Virgil.

There's a low groan as the anchor of the boat begins to rise.

Suddenly, panic begins to set in. Virgil reaches out, grabbing onto Patton's wrist. He's lost him once, and he doesn't think that he can handle losing him again. Not now, not after it feels like he's finally got him back.

"Wait," Virgil pleads. "Can't you stay?"

The anchor lifts higher, it's almost completely riled in now. Virgil becomes desperate, looking up to Patton, begging.

"Come back with me. If I can go back, so can you, right?"

Patton simply shakes his head.

"Everyday we choose to live," Patton says. "We choose to get up in the morning and keep on trying. But you can only die once. My time has already come, Virgil. I'm sorry."

Virgil's stomach drops and his knees go weak. "Please. Dad." His eyes sting as they prick up with welling tears. "I don't want to be alone."

Patton melts, reaching over the partition between them to hold his boy's face in his hands. "Oh Virgil, you're not alone. You're never alone." His eyes wander over Virgil's own, trying to express his sincerity. He runs a thumb over Virgil's cheek lovingly. "I will always be here, waiting for when it's your turn to go on. Everyone goes, just as you said. What's important is that we go together, when we're ready."

"Dad," Virgil says.

"Yeah?"

"When you go back, there's... There's someone named Roman Sanders. I guess–" Virgil struggles to find the right words. "I was just wondering if you could–"

"I'll look after him," Patton promises.

Virgil feels relieved. "Thank you."

The boat begins to move, pulling away from the dock.

"You've grown into a wonderful young man. I'm so glad I got a chance to see it today," Patton says, smiling warmly.

"Me too," Virgil says. He walks down the dock alongside the boat, following it. "I love you."

"I love you too, kiddo. I'm so proud of you."

Patton holds onto Virgil until he physically can't anymore. And Virgil, in turn, watches him sail across the turquoise ocean until he's nothing more than a speck against the ever-yellow sky.