Between the Raindrops | ✓

Ch.36 | Acceptance

B E T W E E N

T H E

R A I N D R O P S

___________________

My mom and I sit at the dining room table completely stunned. My dad just confirmed my worst nightmare, though a part of me feels as though it was just a freak accident. My dad wouldn't knowingly murder someone, right?

"Dad, you said you got so angry, that you punched him. You said you reached out to grab him before he actually fell. Do you know what that means?" I say, surprised that I'm actually trying to make him feel better, even after the events that happened last night.

"I honestly think about it every day. It still isn't easy." He sighs.

"It means that you didn't purposely kill him. It means you acted in the heat of the moment, and realized it was a complete mistake. The only problem was that it was too late to do anything. You aren't a murderer. Yes, what you did was horrible, and I can't even imagine how bad you've felt all this time, knowing that you're the reason Mr. Sage isn't here anymore. But dad, you are not a murderer. You did not intentionally kill him." I explain. I look over to see that my mom has tears in her eyes.

"But I... I hit him. I'm the one who caused him to fall." He says while shaking his head. "It is my fault. I did kill him."

"No, you just made a very bad mistake and because you tried to save him means you didn't intentionally just push him off that machine and kill him. It means you just made a mistake, even though the consequence was severe."

"No, stop it! Why are you trying to make me feel better? I did it! I hit him and he fell! I heard the loud smack as his body connected with the concrete. I saw the blood pouring from his ears and mouth. I saw his eyes wide open, while he was looking at nothing. I did it." My dad is having some sort of panic attack. His breaths are rigid and my mom looks scared.

"Jon, please, calm down. You need to breathe!" My mom panics, standing up and walking over to him.

She places her hands gently on either side of his face, pulling him down to look at her.

"Look at me Jon. Breathe."

My dad is finally able to calm down and suddenly, he walks over to me and lifts me up out of my seat.

"Dad, what are you-" but he cuts me off, and pulls me in for a hug.

I look to my mom who wipes a tear from her cheek and nods.

Slowly, I bring my arms up and hook them around my dad, hugging him back. I know I'm still mad at him for getting drunk and slapping me, but right now he's scared and in a bad place. As his family, I need to be there for him, regardless of what else has happened.

"I am so sorry sweetheart. For everything. For last night. For your friend. For William. I'm just so sorry." He cries into my shoulder, and I actually feel tears falling from his face and onto my shirt. My dad is crying, something he never does. Ever.

"I know dad... I know." We pull apart and I step back to look at both my mom and dad.

"That's why when I tell you that I'm going to invite Angie and her mom over later today so you can explain everything that you just explained to us, you need to agree. We need to settle this once and for all. We need to tell the complete truth and hope that they can somehow forgive our family." I explain, and my mom nods.