The Lonely People

Chapter 8- Alone

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

-Leo Buscaglia

Chapter 8- Alone

At the outlets, I didn't end up buying any clothes. Although I did buy some new white Chuck Taylor's, but Caitlin wasn't too happy with my decision. And, I also bought a new leather cross body. I figured I needed a new purse of some sort and this was the only thing that would match my clothing style. And this is where Caitlin said," That's the whole reason we're here, to find you a new look." But I didn't need it. It's not like I was trying to impress somebody.

We got to my place at around 9:30. The house was quiet, but that was unusual. Usually, my dad was doing some sort of activity that involved some sort of noise.

"Hey Caitlin, could you just stay by the door? I think there might be something wrong with my dad." She set her bags down on the floor and closed the door quickly.

"Do you want me to call someone? Or do anyth-," I cut her off mid sentence. I did not want anyone to see my dad this way. Or else they would put him in a home for the elderly. And that was the last thing I wanted.

"No please, just stand by the door. I got this."

I turned away from her worrying eyes and searched the house for my father. I hope he was okay and just sleeping in his bed. But he always waited for me to get home, so I don't think that was a possibility.

"Hey dad? Where are you?" I was hoping he would answer and everything would be fine, but I didn't believe that.

I went into his room and noticed the sheets were scattered around the floor some pieces of glass were on the floor. But the worst part was, there was blood near the glass.

My breathing started to quicken, and they started getting heavier and heavier by the second. I figured I was hyperventilating, panicking because I didn't know where my dad was. And there was so much blood. My vision started to go blurry, so I held on the the wall. I stumbled trying to get out of the room so I could find him.

"Dad? Dad please, where are you?" I went to his office upstairs that he hasn't used since he retired 15 years ago.

"Daddy please, tell me where you are." My vision started to go blurry again, but it wasn't from fear or light headedness. It was because of sadness. I couldn't bear to live without the man who taught me everything, I've been through everything with him. He was part of the reason I started painting, but he would never know that if I didn't find him.

I went to the last room in the house, a room I was dreading to go in, but it might've been the most obvious choice.

My brothers room.

I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. I had to do this for the sake of my fathers health. I pressed my right ear the the door to see if there were any noises coming from the room. Unfortunately, there were. Behind that door, was the sound of my dad crying and whimpering about how he didn't know where he was or who he was for that matter. I knew I needed to help him.

I pushed open the door and looked around the room, which didn't contain much due to Kaydens departure. I noticed a dark figure in the corner next to the bed. He was rocking back and forth, muttering incoherent words. But I didn't need to look at his face to know he had been crying.

"Dad? Are you alright? It's your daughter, Angelica." I reached out my hand for him to take it, but he refused by pressing up against the wall even more.

"I-I don't kn-know you. I d-don't know wh-who I-I am. H-help me." He turned his head towards me and I saw his eyes glisten with fear and the unknown. I knew because I saw this look more than three times a week.

"That's what I'm trying to do daddy. Please come out so I can help you."

"You, you won't h-hurt me, r-right?" I sighed and went to my knees, just a few feet away from my father.

"Of course I won't hurt you, I would never do that. Please, take my hand." I stretched out my hand once again, and this time, I felt the warmth of my fathers palm on mine. I got to my knees and set my other hand on his back to help him steady himself. He got to his feet, and we headed out of Kaydens room and into his.

"Could you tell me why you were in that room?" I helped him to bed and pulled the sheets over his body.

"I-I don't k-know. I just re-remembered my son, and t-that's all." I stared at him for a few moments until I came back to reality.

"Okay, but you're okay now right?"

"Yes, t-thank you kind s-stranger." I couldn't help but tear up to his words. I was his only daughter, the only person that really cared about him, how could he not remember me? After all we've been through together. How could he forget?

I went to the door and whispered quietly,"Goodnight Dad, I love you." I then turned the light off and shut the door. I sighed and went back downstairs to where I told Caitlin to wait.

I found her on the kitchen counter, eating a bag of Doritos, quiet rapidly I must say as well.

"Woah, calm down there." I grabbed the bag if chips from her and starting to fill myself up, trying to forget about tonight. I wanted to seem as mellow as possible. I couldn't let Caitlin know that my father was too sick to stay with me. I could never stand to lose my father. He would be taken away from me to a home, and I would be left alone here, wondering if he was okay. She couldn't see through me this time, I wouldn't allow it.

"How are you okay!?" Her mouth was filled with Doritos. I've learned over the years that whenever Caitlin is scared or nervous, she eats. She'll eat anything that's edible that gets in her path. I remember one time during our 7th year in school, she came over our house but we were out of food. Caitlin panicked about it but she ended up finding a can of sardines to eat.

"Look, everything's fine, nothing I haven't dealt with before." Truthfully, I never experienced that with my dad. I was truly afraid I had lost him forever, and who knows, I still might lose him again like that. I knew Caitlin would try to get help for my dad, she loves him almost as much as I do. She would want what's best for him and in her opinion, that would be for him to go to a home. But in my opinion, that's here with me where I know he's safe. If I lost my dad, I would have no one. My whole family had left me here on this planet, alone.