When I Was 20 Years Old (Mature content) (Complete)

Chapter 14 - David

I woke up with blurry vision, restrained to the bed. My limbs felt heavy as I tried to move as I awaited the return of my vision. I then felt someone take my hand in their and squeeze it. It took a few moment to hear their voice.

"Dad?" It was Rory.

"I'm here," I whispered, "What happened?"

"You fainted!" She said, "Do you remember that?"

"Where's Jasmine?" I asked.

"With Jason," she said, "Lucky Bradley was closest to you and managed to pick her up before you fell over and ..."

"I'm sorry Rory," I said.

"Don't be sorry dad!" She replied.

"Well I am," I insisted, "You kids don't deserve this!"

"The doctors are running tests now," she said, "I don't want to hear anymore bad news!"

"What do you mean more?" I asked.

"Well mum died, you have cancer, Ella nearly lost her kids, Jason and Bradley were told they were too young to have a surrogate..."

"Jason and Bradley were trying to have a surrogate?" I asked.

"Yeah," she sniffed, "And I've lost one of my twins!"

"What?" I asked.

"I'm sorry for dumping all this one you!" She cried.

"Does Luke know?" I asked.

"No!" She choked, "Mum knew....that was it."

"Why haven't you told him?" I asked.

"And tell him my body is rejecting kids and that we may only be able to have this one child?" I asked, "I can't!"

"I'm so sorry Rory!" I whispered.

"Which is why I need you to be ok!" She cried, "I can't have you dying too! I want them to come in here and say that they mixed up the records and that actually you are fine and healthy and you fainted due to grief over mum but other than that you will be fine!"

"I want that too!" I whispered, "I want more than anything to be able to say that I'm not dying and that I can be there to be a grandfather but..."

"Don't finish!" She breathed, "I can't hear it."

"Rory you have to promise me that whatever the results are, we are honest with your siblings with no tears," I begged.

"How can I have no tears?" She asked.

"You have to try!" I pleaded, "I don't want to see any of you crying!"

She sniffed, "Did mum tell you about Kevin Greyson?"

"Yes," I replied.

My teeth gritted at the mention of the monster who abused my daughter. I hated him, but I hated myself more for not seeing this as it happened to my daughter right under my nose. I felt like I had failed my daughter.

"I'm so sorry Rory..."

"Don't! I don't blame you!" She spoke loudly, "I'm slowly recovering mentally thanks to my therapist. Thank you for getting me her."

She held my hand and smiled weakly. I knew she was still in pain. I had never wanted my kids to know I was dying. When I had been first diagnosed with cancer I hadn't even told Alex but when I started going out more to get treatment I had to tell her because she thought I was having an affair. We mutually agreed to keep this from the children. And when the cancer came back again we tried to fight it without the knowledge of the kids. We were trying to prevent this.