divulgence // luke hemmings au

52

The next night

Luke sat his family down on the sofa (except Elliot) the tensions in the room were already high as they started to look at one another in silence.

"Luke what's the matter" Sabrina was already anxious wanting Luke to start talking.
"The last twenty four hours have been really hectic and draining"

"What's wrong dad?" Elsie was now super concerned.

"I was talking with my doctor and I decided that since I'm terminal that it's best that I stop chemo. I rather spend my last days and weeks not feeling sick" Luke finally broke the news, his family seeming shocked  and a little hurt by the news.

"Luke you're not being serious are you?" Sabrina asked, trying to rub her husbands arm.

"Yeah, I'm being serious. If the treatment isn't going to help then there's no use in me continuing it since it's made me so physically sick."

"How long did they give you Luke?"

"Anywhere from three weeks to three months" he sighed as he gave more details.

"What's the plan? What are we supposed to? How is this family going to go on without you?" As Sabrina kept rattling off questions, her voice kept cracking as she talked more.

"Honestly I don't know, going back to work seems pretty useless now"

"But you like what you do, daddy" Eloise chimed in this time.

"I do love what I do but working till I die doesn't sound like a good way to live out my remaining time I much rather be around you guys"

"Aww that's sweet" Elsie added in this time.

"I'm so sorry about all of this Luke, I didn't think any of this would happen"

"Sometimes Sabrina life just throws curveballs and we just have to go with it"

"I thought I was going to grow old with you Luke. I thought we were gonna live out are olden days in a little cottage by the water, watching the sunset together while rocking back and forth on our rocking chairs" now Sabrina went from rubbing Luke's arm to intertwining her hand with his.

"Sabrina, we did grow old together. We've been together since we were in our twenties now we're in our fifties. We've been through heaven and hell together. I never want to trade any of this for anything else."

"Who's gonna walk me down the aisle when I'm ready to get married?" Elsie asked seeming a bit emotional now.

"Elliot would probably be really honored to do that for you" Luke responded trying to be positive.

"Who's going to watch me graduate high school? College?" Eloise asked getting choked up as well.

"Your mother, your brother, your sister"

"But that's not the same!"

"I know but it'll just take some time getting used to Eloise"

"I don't want you to leave me daddy!" Eloise got up to hug her dad tightly.

Fast forward a few more hours

Luke was walking up the walkway of a particular house he never thought he would find himself now standing at the front door ringing the door bell.

He took a few deep breaths trying to get his thoughts in order.

Around two to three minutes later the door opened and an old man appeared, it took him a second to realize it was his father. He aged so much since the last time he seen him. "Luke? Is that you?" His dad asked squinting at him. He was hunched over with a can, his hair completely gray and he wore thick glasses.