Trolls: All This Time

Chapter 11

-poppy's pov-

it had been about a half hour since my breakdown, and i wasn't feeling any better. it seemed like my entire world was crashing before my eyes, even though everything was fine.

a knock hit my door and immediately i thought it was branch. not in the mood, i snapped, "go away. i'm not in the mood."

"it's about your dad, poppy," a deep voice said through the closed door. it wasn't branch, it was smidge.

i quickly wiped off my face so she wouldn't be able to tell i had been crying before rushing over to my door. "is he okay?" i asked the short troll once the door had been opened.

smidge paused for a moment before giving me an upsetting frown and shaking her head.

i put my head over my mouth. could today get any worse?

physically pushing smidge out of my way, i ran over to my dad's pod. faster than i had ever run before. wind pushed against me but i didn't stop. i didn't stop running. i just wanted to get to my dad before it was too late.

for all i knew, it already was too late.

bursting through the door, i found my dad on his bed, surrounded by nurses. i pushed my way through all of them and saw my dad, laying still and flat on his bed with his eyes closed.

"dad?" i asked softly, putting my hand to his chest. it was still moving up and down, but barely. i could hear him struggling to breathe.

"poppy," he said slowly, grabbing my hand. his skin was cold, not like normal. normally, his hands were burning up. "promise me you'll take good care of this village, okay?"

i looked at my dad, everything becoming a blur with tears forming in my eyes for the second time today. "no," i mumbled, almost to myself. "dad, you..you can't go. you can't leave me."

the former king squeezed my hand before letting go of it. his breathing slowly began to stop and i knew his time was coming to an end.

"i..i love you dad. so much."

there was silence for a moment, before a hoarse voice said, "i love you too, my princess. take care and make me proud, baby girl."

his chest slowly stopped moving, and my heart shattered into a million pieces. this was the worst thing to ever happen to me.

everything felt numb inside of me. i felt all the nurses eyes on me, they knew they couldn't do anything to help him. one tried to grab my hand, but i yanked it away. i didn't want their pity, i wanted my dad.

before i could begin crying, i rushed out of his pod. slamming open the door, i noticed branch was standing outside, waiting for me. pain filled his eyes.

"poppy, i-"

he reached for my hand, but i didn't even stop. i just kept walking, hoping he'd take the hint and leave me alone. i didn't want to cry in front of him, not again.

"leave me alone," i instructed before storming off.

he didn't listen. of course he didn't listen! he's branch, what else did i expect?

jumping in front of me, branch grabbed both of my shoulders. he didn't say anything, he just stared into my eyes, trying to contemplate what emotions i was feeling.

i didn't look at him. i turned my head and closed my eyes.

i felt two fingers lightly touch my chin before lifting them up to look at branch. for a second i fought it, but the tears filling my eyes eventually got to me and i began bawling.

"shh," branch pulled me in, the closest and tightest he'd ever hugged me before. i cried so hard. his vest was damp from my tears.

"it's okay, baby," he assured me, rubbing my back and pushing my bangs out of my face. "i'm right here."