A Checklist for Georgia

Part 1

"Good morning! I'm here to see Michel Santiago." 

"I know sweetheart, you come here every day." The nice nurse says while handing me a visitor's pass.

I smiled sheepishly and turned to walk down the surprisingly empty halls. For a hospital, it was pretty quiet. But that's fine, I liked the quiet. It gave me time to think. 

My soaked converse squeaking against the tile floors was the only sound to be heard as I headed towards my dad's room. 

It never got easier coming to see my dying father. I got used to it, but it was never easy. 

My own mother stopped visiting after a while. She said the stress of watching the love of her life was too much for her to bear. 

I hated her for that. 

You shouldn't just abandon someone you love, right? 

I've never been in love so it's hard to say...

"Knock knock, I'm coming in." I say in a sing-song voice as I swing open the heavy door to my dad's room. 

He was sitting up in bed pushing a few peas around his plate with a plastic fork. His appetite was low as always. 

"Ah, Mija, I was starting to think you wouldn't show today." 

The small wrinkles around his eyes and mouth were more prominent these days. His salt and pepper hair that was usually swept back into a neat man bun was framing his face today. His amazing cheekbones were hollow and his eyes had just about lost that youthful gleam they had when I was a little girl.

I blushed and sat down in the chair next to his bed. 

"You know I'd never abandon you, dad." 

He chuckled, "I know, I know. So tell me, how's your m-"

"Dad, please. It's hard enough fighting with her every day because of you. I just want to talk about something happy while I'm here." I started picking at my fingernails, an unsightly habit I just couldn't get rid of. 

He sighed and pushed his half-eaten food away from him. 

"Georgia, listen to me. You know I don't blame your mother for making that decision, right? I still love her and I don't want this to ruin the relationship you have with her. She's still going to be there for you in a year, I won't be. You'll need someone to take care of you, but you'll end up all alone if you keep pushing people away." His cold brown eyes stared back into mine. 

I had never heard him speak like that before, he was such a light-hearted man that never raised his voice. 

"I understand," I whispered. "I should get going before I'm late for school." 

He nodded and smiled. 

"I love you, mija." 

"I love you too."

***

"Alright class, settle down! I have an announcement to make. We have a new student joining us today, all the way from Louisiana. Introduce yourself, son." My English teacher, Mr. Cody said.

Everyone in the class was as quiet as a mouse as they caught sight of the new kid standing up at the front. 

I'd have to admit, he's pretty handsome. 

"'Sup, I'm Kai." He stated plainly, looking bored already. 

Wow, what a way with words. 

I could already hear the cheerleaders sighing and starting to gossip amongst themselves. Could they really not contain their hormones for one minute?