The Way it Goes

Chapter 21- A Not So Perfect Day

Chapter 21- A Not So Perfect Day

I can't believe it's already 11:40 p.m and that the dance is almost over. We are all in line dancing to the Cha Cha Slide when I feel my phone vibrate. Without anyone seeing me, I slip outside and answer it.

"Hello?" I ask not recognizing the caller ID.

"Hi, is this Lou Elle?" The person on the other line has a familiar voice.

"This is she. How can I help you?"

"Well, we are calling regarding your father," her words make my heart beat rapidly and I feel the all to familiar anxiety stirring, "he's been slipping in and out of his coma."

"W-what do you mean?" I respond clutching the phone to my ear.

"We're saying that your father has woken up, Lou. We suggest you come see him be cause we aren't sure how long it will last." The nurse tells me and my heart leaps out of my chest.

"I'm on my way right now." I say into the phone but then remember we took Michael's car.

Quickly, I hang up and signal for a taxi. Luckily the hospital is only ten minutes from school so I should make it there fast enough. He drops me off at the hospital and without checking in I hobble straight into my fathers room and see that his eyes are open. My mother is standing in the room with tears in her eyes. Our eyes meet and she hugs me then leaves the room.

"Daddy!" I gasp and run over to him, not sure if I should hug him or not in case he's in pain.

"Lou, come here, give me a hug." His voice is raspy and he's very pale but I hug him with all my might.

"You're awake, h-how are you awake?" I ask him, a tear of joy rolling down my cheek.

"I don't know sweetheart, but I don't want to talk about me. I want to talk about every single thing that's happened while I was... away." He tells me and I lie down on the bed with him.

"Well, do you want the bad news or the good news first?" I ask him not sure where to start.

"Hmm... How about you start with the reason why you're on crutches." He states and I frown.

"Wellll... I maybe, kinda sorta got... shot?" I squeak out and my dads eyes look like golf balls.

"You what?!" He exclaims and I proceed to tell him the whole story between Brittany, Zach and I. By the end of the story my dad is fuming and he wraps his arms around me.

"Listen, if anyone ever lays a finger on you again I will walk out of this hospital and kick their ass." My dad growls making me chuckle.

"Dad, for one you can barely and two, it won't happen again. I'm pretty sure something like that is a one time thing."

His face softens and he asks me another question, "so tell me about this boy who you said saved your life."

"He's actually my boyfriend and is really great, dad. I mean, he's incredibly sweet, a gentleman, has a sense of humor, and is an overall wonderful person." I tell him and my dad smiles at me.

"Well, he's got to be good for something if he saved your life. What's this boys name?"

"His name is Will." I reply and see something flicker in my dads eyes which he covers up quickly as he yawns.

"Well he sounds like a great guy. How about we get some sleep, and we'll talk some more tomorrow?" He asks me and I nod my head enjoying our time together.

"I want you to know that I love you so much Dad. I'll never stop loving you no matter what and you are the best dad a girl could ever ask for. I love you to the moon and back." I tell him and tears start to form in my eyes.

"Thank You sweetheart. I love you so much too and I want you to know that whatever happens I'll always be with you. Every time you feel the wind on your face, see rainbows, hear birds chirping, I'll be with you, always. I'm so incredibly proud of you and the young woman you've become. Never give up Lou, things will get hard but there will always be people who love you." He tells me and I see tears brimming his eyes as he kisses my forehead.

"I love you." I whisper.

"I love you too. Oh, I also want to give you these," He replies and I take the envelopes from his hands, "If anything happens to me, I've written these letters for the important moments of your life."

"Thank You daddy, goodnight." I reply and soon after we stop talking both of us fall asleep.

There is a light shining on my face and it takes me a moment to remember where I am. My dad woke up, I'm with him in the hospital. When I glance at the clock I see it's six in the morning.

"Good morning dad." I say smiling but he doesn't answer.

"Dad." I say shaking him slightly but there is still no answer.

"Daddy!" I cry, by his eyes remain closed and he doesn't move. I put my head to his chest and listen for a heartbeat but can't hear anything.

"Nurse, I need a nurse!" I scream and push the little red call for help button.

Within minutes there are multiple nurses and doctors in the room. One pulls out a stethoscope and places it over my dads heart.

"Bring in the defibrillators, quickly." The doctor orders and they try three times to wake my father up.

"Is he going to make it?" I wail and the Nurse I seen last time envelops me in a hug.

"Darling," she says in a Southern accent, "we believe your father- we think- he passed away in his sleep."

Immediately the tears pour out and I look at my dad's lifeless body. He's pale and doesn't look anything like the dad I know.

"He can't be dead!" I scream and tears blur my vision. "Daddy, wake up, please wake up." My pleas do nothing and it hits me that my father is dead.

I'll never see him again, never hear his faint snoring, have a Christmas or Birthday with him, he's actually dead. It seems like such a harsh word but right now I feel like a statue unable to move.

"Honey, it'll be all right, we're going to get through this." My mother is behind me and she pulls me into a hug.

"Mommy." I sob and she cries into my shoulder.

All of a sudden I feel nauseous and limp over to the toilet emptying my stomach into it. I crumple to the floor and my mom sits beside me. After about an hour the coroner comes and takes my father away, which makes me cry even harder, which I didn't think was possible. My mother and I decide to leave since there's no point in staying anymore. I grab the letters and stuff them in my purse and we take her car home.

On my way to my room I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I look like hell and feel like it too. Stripping out of my prom dress I put on baggy sweats and one of my dads T-Shirts and crawl under the covers. For some reason I can't help but think the reason my dad woke up was to say goodbye. At least I got to have one last conversation with him. How could the best night of my life have turned so quickly to the worst?
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Hi Everybody! Oh my gosh I'm crying right now!😭😭😭 This chapter is crushing me but it had to be written. That's the thing about writing though, we don't write the book, the book writes us. (How philosophical, right?😉) Keep reading to find out the turn of events that you most definitely will not expect coming. Anyway... pleaseee vote this chapter!!! Love you guys!❤️❤️❤️