Mod Superhero (Book 6 STUBBING on Oct 27th)

Chapter 6.44 - Window

Emmett's stomach had been twisted into knots before, but now it felt like he was on the verge of collapsing—like his arms and legs would dissolve and he would fall to the floor.

"Two years?" he muttered.

Mod nodded. "One year, ten months, and fifteen days."

Emmett slumped forward in his chair, then backward. His body felt just as lost as his thoughts. Memories had been coming back to Emmett. His friends, his family, Clara... Clara was here. He was grateful for that. What about the others?

Emmett could barely form a sentence. Mod must have read his thoughts through their connection.

Mod held up a hand. "Don't worry. Everyone's okay. Mom, Dad... Well, Dad retired early. He had a cancer scare, but he's clear now. Antony started college. He bounced back from his ankle and he's playing ball at school. Darryl was out of work for a bit, but we all chipped in. Otherwise him, Maci, and the nephews are good."

Emmett let out a breath and nodded. He felt numb.

Two years had passed. Gone in a blink.

Dad...

Emmett searched Mod's face, but his expression was unreadable. How bad had that cancer scare been? It must have been bad enough. Emmett could easily imagine Mom making Dad retire early after something like that. What was the point in working that long if you didn't get to enjoy it?

"Show me."

The rest of Emmett's request passed wordlessly through their connection. In return, Emmett saw through Mod's eyes. The demiplane fell away—

Replaced by memories.

~

Dad called Mod one evening—which was odd, considering the family talked mostly over text. TINA helped him route the call through. He was calling the kids one by one to tell them he had prostate cancer. Dad almost didn't tell them at all—he hadn't wanted to be a bother, but Mom insisted.

Mod had listened and tried not to interrupt. Dad tried to make it sound like a smaller deal than it was. But Mod had already hacked into his doctor's office and accessed his dad's records. Early... Aggressive... Those were the descriptions.

Mod didn't get a chance to visit for a few months after that. Even though his family wasn't being actively surveilled anymore, Mod still had to be careful.

When he finally visited, Mod jogged to the house with his cloaking engaged. He was the first one there that day and heard his parents talking through the window. No one else could have heard it, but Mod's senses didn't miss much anymore.

Dad was worried—worried about health insurance, being able to finish out his job, and finally retire. Mom wanted him to retire now. Dad didn't think it would be enough. The economy was bad, and they were already helping out Daryl while he was between jobs. Mom said they'd make it work.

Mod hesitated, then knocked on the door and let himself in.

Dad was already into his first rounds of chemotherapy. He tried to put on a stoic face, but the chemo was already taking its toll. It looked like he'd aged ten years since the last visit, and Mod had to help him up and down from the couch. When dinner came, he barely ate. Dad usually cleaned his plate and went back for seconds.

He couldn't keep dinner down. He retched until there couldn't have been anything left. When Dad finally came out of the bathroom, he'd wiped his face... But Mod had heard the quiet sobs, even through the door and down the hall. He didn't miss much anymore.

It wasn't right seeing Dad like that.

It felt like watching a hero that had been ambushed by villains. They were wounded and surrounded, but still fighting, no matter what the odds were.