The Last Night

Molly

By the time the flight touched down I was crawling out of my skin. Bryn was so well but memories plagued me the closer we got to my hometown.

Ebony met us at the gate beaming.

She looked the same as always. A little taller. A little tanner. But her blonde shiny hair touched her chin in a chic bob and her shorts and tank top matched her sandals. Her manicured nails painted red white and blue for the holiday.

She wraps me in a tight hug and I return it. Sinking into her familiarity.

"I've missed you Molly Moo." She murmurs.

"Ditto." I whisper. Emotions clogging my throat.

When she releases me she stoops down and smiles at my daughter.

"Nice to see you in person Brynie."

Bryn smiles and hugs her tentatively. Then we climb into her car and head the twenty minutes to my childhood home.

Everything looks the same as it always has. I suppose that makes sense. Adam left for college the year before I left. My parents are both district attorneys who work grueling hours and now dad is sick.

There is no time for change in the house. Just the people who grew up here.

Ebony helps me carry our stuff inside and up to our rooms. Then I head to the kitchen for some food.

I scrounge up sandwiches and we eat in a content silence.

I hear the garage door open and a car pull in. My parents and Adam arriving from the hospital. I stand awkwardly. Ebony smiles reassuringly.

I remember my father's words so many years ago.

"Don't come back Molly. If you want a good life you won't come back no matter what."
I swallow my nerves.

The door seems to open in slow motion. Adam comes in first looking tired and haggard. Then mom. She looks just as rough. But what stops my heart and squeezes it beyond restriction is the way my father looks.

His hair is gray and thinning. Gone is the muscles. He looks so much older than his age.

I barely contain a gasp and Adam meets my gaze, knowing.

"You made it." Mom smiles a watery smile before hugging me. She hugs Bryn next then helps settle my dad in the living room.

Whatever is going on, I know it's bad. Worse than bad. And suddenly I wish I had listened to him and never come back.

I force the thoughts away and sit beside him on the couch and take his cold hand.

"Molly." He sighs.

"I'm here dad." I whisper.

He closes his eyes and after a minute his breathing evens out. He's asleep. I glance at mom and she nods. Sitting beside me I wait for the diagnosis that will detonate our family.

"It's cancer, Mol. Stage four renal. He's not responding to treatment anymore. They've done all they can. But he wants to be home now. Surrounded by love." She strokes my face and I realize I'm crying. I bite my lip and nod. Clinging to his hand.

"How long have you known?" I ask looking at him.

"A few years. At first he was doing well." Mom sighs.

I should feel angry at her keeping this secret but on some level I understand. Once people knew they'd see him as a statistic. A ticking time bomb.

"I'm here now." I whisper closing my eyes to keep the tears at bay.