I study rainbows

Reconciliation & Realization.

{Carlos POV}

He's never been sick... he's also never been hurt, so what is this about? Are they getting a divorce? I'm sure she wouldn't be this serious about telling me , we're all adults now. It's not that serious.

40 years working on our own farm , and he hasn't missed a day. When I was a baby I can remember my mother sitting me on her lap to just watch him work outside in the yard. He didn't believe in women getting jobs. He always told me "Son , when you find your woman, you take care of her better than you take care of yourself. Your mother and you are my life. Y'all always come first. Just like your women and your kid will when they come along."

I would feel good knowing that me and my mom were his world, but I would never " find a girl" or a woman for that matter. I knew I was gay since 15, really before then but I accepted myself at 15 if you know what I mean. I would look at dad and nod my head so he knows I heard him. But I wouldn't dare tell him I won't find a woman.

I texted mom back, " I'm coming now." not waiting for a response I tell my partner it's a family emergency and grab my keys and wallet forgetting to clock out before I left.

I make the 30 minute drive from work straight to our farm , and stop at the mail before pulling into the driveway. I hold the mail out the window giving it to my cousin Travis to give to my dad when he can like always , unless that was going to change after this talk. No. I can't think the worst , not while I'm outside the house at least.

I get out of the car , just as my mom comes out using her hand to tell me to come in. I made my way in quickly , she went back into the house before I made it to the steps and that alone sent me into action, I started jogging into the house to see what happened.

"Mom , where are you?" I asked trying to find her but there were too many doors when you first walked in the house, it was so confusing at times. "I'm in our bathroom, please hurry!" I ran into my parents bathroom, seeing my dad on the floor with a huge blood spot on the front of his shirt, while he lay on his back. I bend down grabbing a towel off the bar stool and press it down firmly on his stomach.

" Papi what the hell? Why didn't you call me or something , I went through almost a full 12 hour shift and your bleeding out on the floor papi! Why?" I asked frustrated but mainly worried for the stubborn man in my arms on the floor.

" It looks worse than it actually is mijo. I just need some stitches maybe." he said dismissing the position he is in right now. I lift his shirt to see a long welt cut open from the bottom right of his abdomen to almost the top of his left rib cage. I look down at the man I looked up to my entire life, he is the strongest man I know and Emily was the strongest woman I knew.

I decided at that moment, I can't let him die. He was my hero once upon a time, and most of all he is my father , I have to do this.

"We have to go to the hospital. I don't have anything with me here to stitch you up. And when you do get stitched up, you can't work for 2 weeks, and you can't shower for a full day after you get them as well."

"Mijo you know we aren't here legally , we tried to get the papers done but once Emily died we stopped trying. We felt like we lost everything when she died. We had already lost you long before she died, she was the only thing connecting us to you , she would update us on how you were doing and your achievements , your ranks at your job, everything mijo. We never forgot about you, we didn't want to force our way into your life so we loved you from a distance because that's what we thought you wanted." I wrapped the towel tight around his body trying my best to stop the blood while he was talking. I wanted to but I had to keep it together for the sake of both of them. I carried him bridal style in the car and laid him down in the back seat , my mom sitting in the passenger seat.