Cardigan

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Elle POV

"Cheri?" I pull my head from under the covers, looking towards the door at him. "Baby, you've not been eating," he sits down beside me, his hand combing through my hair.

"I'm not hungry," he sighs.

"You need to eat something anything even if it's just a few bites," his hand rests on my cheek. "I'm going into the kitchen to make some pasta for you,"

"I'd rather starve than eat your pasta,"

"I undercooked it one time," he says, causing me to chuckle. "Did I just hear you laugh?"

"No,"

"Oh my god, I did. You laughed, I made you laugh,"

"Leave me alone," I say as he jumps onto me.

"I thought you liked when I was on top of you?"

"I do, but not in this sense,"

"Hmm, well, if you eat, I'll happily get on top of you," I smile at him, sitting up.

"I guess I'll eat," he smiles, lifting me up off the bed and taking me to the kitchen. "You know I can still walk,"

"Not for long," he kisses my cheek as he places me down on the counter. "We have to go to the hospital today as well," he reminds me.

Arthur and Charles had been taking me to the hospital every day, and I still haven't decided what to do. I've received multiple messages off everyone, and Kika stops by every day to check in on me.

"I promise this will be the best pasta you've ever eaten,"

"Don't go making promises you can't keep," he rolls his eyes at me, turning away, placing the pan on the stove.

"You know if you keep calling my cooking skills, I'll never cook for you again,"

"Is that really a bad thing?"

"I can't deal with you," he shakes his head, turning his back on me once again.

He seemed really proud of himself when he placed the bowl in front of me.

"Bon appetite," I looked down at the food in front of me to be fair it didn't look as bad as his previous things.

I picked up the fork and took a bite of his eyes watching my every move.

"I take what I said back. This is actually really good,"

"Oh, thank god," he falls onto his chair, taking his bowl.

"We're you serious waiting for me to eat to tell you it tasted good before you had any?"

"Yes, last time I made it, I forced myself to eat crunchy pasta. I will not go through that again,"

"It's really good, Charles,"

"I'm glad you're finally eating,"

"If anyone could make me, it's you,"

His hand finds mine as we sit and eat. I felt safe whenever my hand was in his like all my worries go away. But I knew I had to face what was ahead of me. I had to make a decision and I think I know what I'm going to do.

"I've been thinking about my dad," I say Charles looks up.

"You have?" I nod.

"It's not fair that I'm keeping him here because I'm afraid to be without him," I say. "I'd rather he be at peace, and I know that I have you and your family by my side. I'm not alone. You'll always be here. Always take care of me," I say his hadn't squeezed mine."I think it's time I turned off his life support," I didn't want to cry. I wanted this to be a positive thing that he'll be in a better place and no longer in pain.

I'll always have him beside me. If he's here or not, I'll also have all those memories to look back on. I think I'm ready to do this.

"I'll be there with you, so will Arthur and Maman," I nod.

"I know you will,"

~~~~~~~

I stand beside his bed, holding his hand. Charles was holding mine as Arthur handed his hand on my shoulder they said they'd be here, and they kept their promise. Pascale was on the other side of the bed and sat beside my father.

"Whenever you're ready," the doctor says, I rest my head back, leaning onto Charles chest.

"I'm ready," I say. The doctor nods, moving aside, removing all the wires and switching the machine off. Charles wraps his arms around me as we watch his heartbeat fade.

Tears fell from all of our cheeks. Pascale said a prayer to herself, holding my fathers hand. My legs felt weak. Charles turned me around and hugged me, letting me cry in his arms. My hand found Arthur's, and he held it, joining the hug.

"He'd was so proud of you," Arthur says. "No matter, he'll always be proud of you,"

"I know," I mumble into Charles chest.

"Let it out let it all out," Charles rubs my back as his other hand holds my head.

He was gone my father was gone.