Tired of Waiting

Chapter 11

Two days had passed since the water fountain adventure, and work with Lilliana was going quite well. Kristopher had gotten a job of his own yesterday working for the carpenter. Neither of our jobs brought in very much money, but combined it was enough to live off of. It also helped that Lilliana let us stay in the inn in exchange for me doing a few extra chores and jobs. Greyson was still recovering and I have been beginning to worry that he's going to do something he shouldn't with how antsy he has been. I tell him to be cautious but he doesn't care, he just tells me he is a grown and capable man.

I woke up and got ready for the day's work, just like I had for the past two days. I opened the door and was met by Kristopher, except this time he wasn't smiling. He looked afraid. And that was all I needed to be afraid myself. I was about to ask what was wrong, but he grabbed my hand and whispered, "We need to go right now."

Fear and anxiety raced across my body, giving me goose bumps and unshakable shivers. Kristopher led me out into the street and we began to run. He led me down a series of familiar streets and at every familiar turn my stomach dropped further and further. I knew exactly where we were going and I wasn't ready for what might happen.

When the hospice came into view I had tears welling in my eyes. We ran through the doors and down the hall to where Greyson's room lay empty. A tear rolled down my face and I turned to Kristopher and whispered, "Is he..?"

Kristopher's eyes were red and he looked just as surprised as I was. He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. I put my head in my hands and let a few tears fall.

A nurse came in the door and asked, "Are you here for Greyson?"

I looked up and wiped my eyes. Kristopher nodded for me and rolled his shoulders back. The nurse beckoned us out the door and down the hallway. I ran to catch up with her and began to cry again when I walked into the room she led us into. The room was full of equipment and had a single bed in the center. Laying in the bed was Greyson. He was pale and looked in pain. A single tear rolled down his cheek.

"Dad?" I whispered as I knelt on the floor by his bed.

His eyes fluttered open when he heard my voice. "Cindy," he weakly whispered back, "don't you ever make the same mistakes I did. Have a family and stay with them, alright? Marry who you love and never let them go. Be better than I was." He strained to lift his hand to caress my face. I leaned against it and closed my eyes. I looked back up at Greyson and saw lines streaked across his cheeks from his own tears. A few tears clung to the graying stubble on his chin and cheeks. He watched me with sadness and weak determination.

I stared into his eyes and replied, "You did a wonderful job, dad. And don't you start talking like you're going to... to, well you know. I am not going to let that happen."

He smiled, a sad, pained smile and croaked, "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid it is far too late for that. I've known this was coming for a few days now. I just wish I had had more time to be your father." A tear streamed down his face.

I began to silently sob. The tears streamed without stop, and my breathing only hiccupped a couple times. I grabbed Greyson's hand and held it tightly. "You could have just ignored me at the tavern that day, but you came back for me. I would say that is a pretty fatherly thing to do. And you raised me as a young child. You brought me back gifts from all of your travels. And you let me keep that cat when I was six." He laughed when I mentioned the cat and his laugh turned into a coughing fit. I held his hand as he leaned back into his bed.

"Yes, I remember your cat. He was a little monster, that cat. An incarnation of the devil himself, I'd say. Do you remember how he ran away a few weeks later? Well, I'm sorry to say that I let him go back into the woods." His lip quirked into a small, half-smile as he told me the story.