Just A Game

14. Don't Leave Us

Beyond that door may be the worst or best thing I've ever seen. Between being upset and angry at what put my dad in that hospital bed and being happy he's alive are two different emotions I may feel. One or the other, maybe both. But I couldn't wait out here for long I eventually had to go in.

My mother stepped to my right placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. She gave me a reassuring smile but even I knew she was nervous. With doubt, I twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open until I heard a knock sound signaling that was the furthest it could go.

The room was plain white all over. On the bedside counter a little vase with one bright orange flower stood out. The only color the room had. And of course, center room was the hospital bed where my unconscious father rested.

"Mom" My voice came out barely above a whisper. My lips quivered and my heart began beating fast. Anxiety got the best of me when my palms started sweating. Seeing my father lay with bruises and bandages all over his face and arms broke my heart. I could only imagine what the stab wound looked like. Without realizing it at first, my body began shaking and I began to take quick short breaths.

"Oh, no" My mom said. She grabbed me by my shoulders spinning me around. A look of worry was cast upon her face. "Remember what Julie said" I couldn't remember what Mrs. Draper said. I feel like I'm halfway between fainting and dying. I struggled to get out of my mom's grip to run away but she held me tight and still "To escape fear, go through it not around" But what if this is the last time I see him? I didn't want this to be the last time I look at him and the next time he'd be in a coffin. If this may be the last time I see him, I don't want to see him at all. A loud beeping noise caught my attention

"No, it's too soon" I cried out. There were tears now falling down my face and my cheeks began to heat. There goes the heart monitor, I thought. He's dead. He's actually dead.

"Effy, relax. It's your phone. Your father is still alive" My mother cooed in my ear wrapping her arms around my waist. I squeezed my eyes shut trying to calm myself down. Slowly, I slipped my phone out of my back pocket.

"Hello?" No one answered my greeting. I pulled my phone back from my ear looking at the home screen. It was a text message, not a phone call. A text message from Chase to be exact. My mom seemed to not have read the caller id even though she was right next to me because she asked,

"Who is it?" It's Chase. If I told Chase then it was definite he would start to grow apart from me. I've been bringing too many of my issues into our times spent together. I don't want him to think I was too emotional and weak. For once I have something going for me and I didn't want him to slip away. I just have to deal with this on my own and leave him out of it.

"Just Drea" I replied to my mom, texting a response to Chase before slipping my phone back into my pocket.

Chase

Hey Eff :o

Me

Can't talk now.

Could I have been subtle? Yes. But did I care? No, not at the moment. I redirected my attention back on my dad. His body looked so roughed up and damaged. Just looking at his busted lip, eye patch and head wrap made me feel like I was the one who was hurt physically. Taking long strides over to his bed, I took a deep breath.