Journey Of The New Earth

13

<James pov>

I swear, if he is late again! I thought as I waited in my chair by the door. It was already six pm and Philip was not back. He never showed up for classes, no ones seen him around campus, I mean, he's usually out late, but he'll check in before six just to get food or charge his communicator. What if something bad happened?

MY head turns as I hear coughing and I quickly run back to the master bedroom, dimming the light a little as I came in. "Hey Honey, you need anything else, tea, maybe another blanket?" I got no answer. 

She's been sick for weeks, though she's been stubborn nd gotten up every morning to see the boys off and then she's right back in bed resting, conserving all of her energy for that. I thought for a few days that it was just the flu, but then it really wouldn't go away. Doctor said it was something hereditary, something that would effect any of us, but they might not be able to help her. 

Every few days she'll go in, get a checkup, gets the news that it's getting worse. It's slowly weakening her stomach, making it hard for her to eat, causing her body to slowly break it's  self down. She has maybe three months to live, and with both of the boys going up in a few months, I almost feel obliged to take them off. 

If your own mother was dying, you would want to know. Jackson knows, we told him today when he got back from classes. Phil hasn't come home yet, but he'll know soon. Anytime now hopefully. 

I walked back out to the living room, noticing the lock shifting. I frown, leaning up against the wall as Phil slowly walked in, eyes red, a scratch across his neck. I stop leaning quickly going to fuss over him as he tries to push me away. "What happened?"

"I'm fine, it's just.. I'm fine dad." He pulls his sweatshirt up, fully zipping it, barely covering his neck. "Ho..How's mom?" He looks uncomfortable, and I notice that he's holding his arms unusually.

I peer towards them, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You okay Champ?"  I try making eye contact and he just pushes though, walking past me.

"I'm gonna go check on mom..." He starts to walk away, right up the stairs past her room. 

A sigh lets out as I walk back into Elena's room, watching her breath slowly as Jackson laid next to her. Her hand was slowly brushing through his hair. I pulled a chair up next to the bed, reaching to take her hand. I see the small tears in Jackson's eyes. My hand brushes them away as Elena takes my hand in hers. I hear a small knock, and my brain tells me that it is time. 

I look up seeing Philip in the doorway, Gwen behind him. His eyes were brimming with tears. He slowly walks over, crumpling to the floor as he goes, slowly melting into the side of the mattress. His face is buried as he sobs into the sheets, the noises only partially being muffled by the material. My hand rubs circles in his back as he lets his tears free. Jackson shifted, opening his eyes in distress as he saw Phil. 

"Oh, Phil." Jackson got up a little, looking around to see all of us together. He huffed slightly, snuggling back up next to Elena. 

I sigh, bringing Gwen into a little hug as she sits down. She slowly sat down, getting a hold on one of Phil's hands. He looked up a little, tears staining his cheeks. She smiled, gripping his hand. "Mom's stronger than most people think, and so are you Philly." The name fell past her lips and he was in full on tears again.

I've always expected Jackson to get a little teary eyed here and there, less so as he got older, but the twins never cried. Not if they could help it. The last time I had seen Phil cry was when he cam home from a so called study session, coming back with the ridiculous marks on his face, tattooed onto his face for the rest of his life. Now, they aren't that noticeable, but the kids already got scars down his whole body. He doesn't need more attention of that kind. 

He cried for hours though. It had been the first big decision of his life, and he was what, thirteen. Talk about parent of the year over here. Couldn't even control his thirteen year old son. He never regretted them, the tattoos, he just felt bad about going behind our backs. Blabbed on about how sorry he was, and how he would grow out his hair to cover them up, stuff like that. 

Now he's here. My little baby boy, the three year old who used to hide behind his daddy's legs at church on Sunday mornings. My boy who got suspended for punching a kid cold for picking on his big brother. My boy who came home with tattoos. My Boy... my boy.. my sweet boy.

What did you do?

When did you become a man... almost a man? Even that is iffy.

When did you become.. not a child. Philip was always the one not grow up, he joked about being a kid forever. He said he was going to live with his nana and papa, never move out. He'd live with us and forever stay our little boy. 

And then this.

What have I come to? My wife's got three months to live, my oldest is going to be in space for the rest of his life, my two others hate my guts and want nothing to do with me. Without Elena... I'll be alone.

I'll be all alone in a world of humanities last hopes.