Road to Recovery (Love & Hope Series #2)

"Peacock Dance"

Quote of the chapter:

"Just because a person smiles all the time, doesn't mean their life is perfect. That symbol is a symbol of hope & strength." 

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Daddy, please be okay. Please, Lord, let him be okay. I don't want to lose him, I prayed. I prayed very hard to the Father, hoping He'd grant this wish. But, maybe his time on Earth has ended. "You should start making...preparations. I'm sorry, she's gone."

"Hey, sis, what's happening with Dad?" Ben asked.

"Uh..I don't know, bud. Call Saint Matthew's."

"Hello, Saint Matthew's? My sister called the night before and we found our father drunk and passed out. Please help us. Thank you. Yes. Goodbye." He turned to me. "They're on their way. I just hope Dad makes it...but, what if he doesn't make it? What will happen to us?"

"That's not going to happen. He'll come through, just like the last relapse." I smiled at him. "Trust me, we've got God on our side and He won't fail us. Pray for him and us. Pray for him that he makes it through the night."

"I will. I will pray for him as hard as I can."

When we reached the hospital, we got Dad checked in and stable. Doctor Williams came in.

"Hello," Dr. Williams said in a grave voice. 

My brother and I looked at each other, terrified with fear; everything shaking, hoping that he'd be alive.

"Your father's..." He looked down, and then back up again. "we don't know yet. We're still trying to figure out what happened to him. It's best if he'd stay in the hospital for a few days, just to make sure everything's okay."

"Good idea, Doctor Williams," I said, hoping that Dad'll be alright. "My brother and I can still visit him, right?"

"Of course."

"Thank you, Doctor."

"You're welcome."

Ben and I went home, sick with worry. How can I go back to university knowing he's in pain, knowing he might die? I thought.

"I just wish Dad would stop having relapses." Ben said, angrily. "Why can't he control himself?"

Those words hurt like the sun burning on your skin when you forgot to take sunscreen. "Do you honestly think he's doing this on purpose?" I shouted.

"Yes, he keeps on drinking himself into these relapses...he'll be dead soon if he doesn't stop."

"Hey!" My anger boiled like water in a pot. "Relapse is a serious thing! You can't just switch from 'Oh, I'm going to eat today' to 'Never mind, not going to.' You can't do that. You need to understand that relapse is a serious cry for help. It means that the person doesn't want to do whatever the family or support system is wanting the person to eat. I've been through relapse twice and I'm not going to sit here and have you talk bad about Dad and relapse!" After a few minutes passed, I said, "I'm really sorry. Relapse is a sensitive topic for me. It still is, even after five months after my second one. I didn't mean to get irate."

"It's okay, sis, I understand. You're still recovering, and, I'm really proud of you for recovering and forcing yourself to eat. You're the best sister in the world and I really need to quiet down on sensitive topics like that. I hope you can forgive me."

"I forgive you. Ready to get some nachos?"

"Yes, please."

                                                                                                 ***

A/N-Long-ish chapter, right? 

I hope this wins the Wattys. I know, it seems like nothing, but, if you could please vote and comment, that'd be awesome! My readers are what keep me going, as long as my fingers and my brain. :) Have a good week and I will "see" you next week.