Time To Go

Twenty-Two: John O

"Come on, John, the cars are here."

"I don't want to go," I whisper.

"You have to. He would want you to go, love."

Mara, the nurse, smiles at me and links her arm with mine, just as a small boy with jet black hair bounds up towards me, screaming his head off.

"Daddy, Daddy, where are you going?" He says, sobbing, his hazel eyes mirroring mine exactly.

"Daddy's going to pay his last respects," I reply quietly, picking up the boy and holding him close.

"Why can't I come, Daddy?" The boy is pouting, his bottom lip extended as he blinks at me.

"Because it's not a very nice place for you to go, James."

"But, Daddy-"

"Listen to you Dad, James," Mara says. "Come on, John, let's go."

I nod and drop the little boy gently onto the floor.

Then we are outside and it's raining, the sky is overcast and a coffin is being lowered into the ground. I can see the tiny gold plaque sinking away from me; I strain my eyes to read it; Here lies the body of Kennedy Brock.

"NOOOOOO!"

"John! What the-"

"Oh my fucking God! Kenny, where are you? Why can't I see you? Where have you gone?"

"I'm right here, John, right next to you."

"I can't see you... why can't I see you? Am I blind?"

"John, calm down, you need to op-"

"Don't you bloody tell me to calm down; you would be the first one to freak out if you suddenly couldn't see anything at all!"

"John..." Kennedy's voice is amused, a chuckle hidden behind his words.

"Don't you dare start laughing, this is not funny!"

"John, your eyes are-"

"I KNOW!" I yell, scrabbling desperately for Kennedy, feeling his warm chest and tugging at his bottom lip.

"John, you need to open your eyes," Kennedy says loudly.

"W-what?" I whisper.

"Open your eyes, John."