Next day..
Stephanie
"Are we going to the hospital today? It is Saturday." I asked August, helping Erin get her clothes together.
"Uh, I think so. He is gettin released tomorrow. I just want ta know what they gon do bout dis cancer. I'm tryna be positive but he aint doin' too good."
August was taking his father sickness as well as he could. I was actually proud of him because when it was me, I was in the depression stage for a whole year. Even now, I still have my moments. But I would still catch him coming off the balcony with sniffing but I would usually turn over and act like I'm asleep. One thing he never wanted to do is let me see him cry. Still don't think I really have seen him break down.
"I know babe, he wanted to see the girls today. Beside has Sheila talked to the doctor?"
I walked in to the bedroom where he was putting on his dress shirt and buttoning it down.
"Ion know, she aint really kept me updated on his condition like I had asked her too. Shit is gettin' on my nerves."
I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head on his back.
"She is also busy with the funeral arrangements and she asked me to order the food. So I --"
He shrugged me off and looked into the mirror.
"What's wrong?"
"Man, it's like everybody gettin ready fa him ta die. Yeah, we been through a lot but I aint tryna see da old man die. He only 44, what type'a shit is dis?" He asked, angrily.
He walked over to the closet to try and find some shoes as I watched him. He was angry about the slightest possibly of his father dying. I understood but it was 50/50 chance.
"Baby, nobody wants to see Anthony go. With God, anything can happen. You know that."
"Mhm." He hummed and laced up his shoes.
I sighed and walked over to him and kissed his forehead. He was going through so much and I was here for him, if he would let me.
"I love you."
He nodded and focused on his task at hand. I walked back to the door and headed back to Erin's room. This was going to be a long morning.
---
After getting to the hospital, August was quiet the whole ride there. When he got out of the car, he grabbed Erin and Laya walked beside me. Looking back in the car, I noticed that he forgot his phone so I reached back in the cup holder and grabbed it.
Once got our passes, we headed up to his room to see Anthony hooked up to oxygen. He looked a bit worse than before. There were dark circles under his eyes and his skin wasn't glowing like it usually did. I looked over at Aug, who I assumed had noticed the change in his father because he wouldn't even take his eyes off of him.
"Hey papa's baybeh's." He whispered and smiled, holding his hand out for us to bring the girls to him.
Erin smiled and let go of August to hug her grandfather. Laya just held his hand from the other side of the bed.
"Pops, how ya doin?" August asked, making his way to his father.
Anthony's weak smile faded as he thought about his answer. "I-I'm alright. I feel good. How you doin'?" he asked, changing the subject.
Struggling to sit up straight, he began coughing. He closed his eyes and re opened them slowly.
"I'm not doin' too good. I need ta find out what's going on witcha." August mumbled.
