A Reason To Love

Ch. 3

Hello my loyal readers! This story is slowly coming together and I am so excited for it. Has anyone ever had a parent get diagnosed with cancer? Has anyone lost a parent to cancer? Or to an accident of some kind? I lost my dad almost seven years ago. I want you to know that you are not alone and you can ALWAYS message me if you ever need someone to talk to. Even if you just need someone to talk to about something else going on in your life, I am here! I want to be an author my readers can talk to, I want to create a community with my readers. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Here is your update!<3

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"Hey kiddo, how was school?" My dad smiles weakly at me from where he was laying in his hospital bed. We turned my parents bedroom into a hospital room with a bed that he can control if it lays down or sits up. The room has everything he needs with handicapped bars drilled into the walls so he has support getting to the bathroom.

"It was fine. I got assigned a partner today in Physics."

"Oh yeah?" That caught my dads attention. I knew it would. 

"Yep Will Foley." I adjusted the pillows under my dads head making sure he was comfortable.

"A boy? Is he smart?" My dad pushed himself into a sitting position as I laid the food tray on his bed table. Tonight for dinner mom made meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and corn. My dad lifted the fork and started to feed himself slowly. Once I was done getting him situated I pulled out my textbooks and started my homework at the bedside table, like I do every day during the week. 

"I don't really know him. He just moved here a year or two ago I am not sure." He made it to senior year so he must be doing something right so far. Yet I can't imagine Will doing homework of any kind so maybe he cheated his way through?

"You know what the means right?" My dad smiled at me with a smile so big it reached his tired eyes.

"What?" I couldn't help but arch an eyebrow at him.

"You are going to have to talk to someone." My dad nodded. His brain automatically goes to my social life or lack there of.

"Yeah yeah eat your dinner old man." I teased before going back to my homework.

"I am just saying I don't want my only child to lack people skills. It could be a good thing ya know? Making a new friend." He added and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I don't tell my dad that I don't want any friends and that Elise is more than enough because saying it out loud will make it worse.

"I don't really see him and I as friends exactly but you are right it might not be so bad." I mumble scribbling the last few answers to my math worksheet. Being the first day back I don't have much homework which means more time with my dad. I make sure to take pictures of him and with him capturing memories because one day they will be all I have left of him.

I feel my phone vibrate so I pull it out of my pocket to check it. It's a gif from Elise of a cat going down the slide in socks, it's something stupid but it's enough to bring a smile to my face. I search through the gif app and send her one of a cat in a batman outfit. I noticed I had another notification so I open it. It's the text message from Will from earlier.

'I am going to figure you out Cameron. -Will.' Was all it said and I don't reply. I don't have anything to say. He can try but he will not succeed that's for sure.

"Would you two like dessert?" My mom peaked her head through the bedroom door, still standing in the same pajamas she had on this morning perks from working from home a lot I suppose.

"Do we have any ice cream?" I absentmindedly licked my bottom lip and she nodded answering my question with a loving look on her face.

"Vanilla?" My dad and I asked at the same time and she nodded once more before a soft smile spread across her face.

"You two are more and more alike every damn day I swear. I will be right back." She shook her head with mock disbelief as she walked away to make our ice cream.

"Get up here kiddo." My dad patted the spot next to him on his hospital bed and I wasted no time climbing in bed beside him careful not to hurt him.

"You aren't going to hurt me Cam. I want to cuddle with my babygirl." My heart tightened inside my chest. These are the moments I live for. The moments I wished time stood still because nothing else matters except for this.

My mom came into the room with three bowls of vanilla ice cream and handed one to both me and my dad before crawling into the bed on the other side of him.

"What are we watching?" My mom asked curiously as she watched another contestant from The Voice sing. This is my dads favorite show, don't ask me why but it is. We watch it together every Tuesday and Wednesday night.

"The Voice." My dad and I answered at the same exact time again causing my mom to laugh quietly. She doesn't get to do this often, just kick up her feet and relax with us so every time she can it makes it that much sweeter. On commercial I pulled out my phone and took pictures of all three of us. One of all three of us smiling ear to ear. My dad grabbed his spoon with what is now melted ice cream on it and slathered both my moms and my cheeks in ice cold sugary liquid. Instead of getting mad we just all busted into fits of laughter. I snapped a few more pictures not caring that our faces were covered just capturing the moment.

"This is what I live for." My dad wrapped an arm around each of us and pulled us closer against him not caring that he was in pain he just wanted us all together.