Future Holds || Bob's Burgers

12- I'm In Pain

Zeke

The next day feels like agony. Her organ function continues to decrease, and Tina is an absolute mess.

I try to keep myself together as much as possible for my wife, but God it's hard. Whenever I'm alone, I allow myself to cry.

Bob and Linda have persuaded Tina to finally leave Amelia's hospital room to eat, so I'm taking a few minutes with her. Just the two of us.

"Hey bug. It's Daddy. I know it's been a day or so since you last heard my voice but I just...I wanted to come in here and tell you I'm still here. I ain't gonna leave you. I ain't going nowhere." I tell her.

Chuckling, I think of what she'd say. "You'd probably point out that double negative I just said...Heh...God, baby I miss you."

Swallowing, the pain in my chest becomes too much to bear and I begin to cry.

"Amelia...My bug...I'm so sorry. I should've been there more. I should've made sure you were alright. I promise you if you make it out of this..." I trail off, realizing how likely it is that she isn't going to "make it out of this".

"God...Goddamn it." I swear, holding her hand and trembling. I've never let myself become this weak. But when it comes to my kids, I turn to jelly.

"Baby...please stay. Please wake up. I need you. Did you think I didn't need you? Your Grandpa told me you said you thought we didn't care and...that's the last thing you ever said. The last conversation. I'm grateful that you said you loved him but...Baby, I loved you too!" I explain to her.

She of course doesn't budge. The doctor keeps saying that she'll continue to decline until...death.

"Give us a miracle, kiddo. Please...we need you. We need you here. I need you here." I beg.

"Sweetie...we're...we're close! I thought you knew you could tell me and your mother anything. Whatever you've been feeling...we'd get through it! You didn't have to resort to this!" I begin to yell.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to raise my voice. It's just...I miss you. Amelia, I miss you." I apologize.

After a beat of silence, I speak up again. "I...I remember when you first went to school. Preschool. And you didn't want to go..."

Zeke

"Okay, she's got her snack?" Tina asks another question.

"Yes, babe. She's got everything. Relax, go take a nap. You were up with Robbie all night." I tell her.

Tina sighs. "Are you sure Amelia is ready for preschool?"

I smile and kiss her. "She's ready. And it's not like a full school day. I'll pick her up and we'll go have lunch at your Dad's, okay?"

Tina nods. "Thank you, Zeke. I love you."

"I love you too, T." I say, kissing her once again.

Tina kisses Amelia on the cheek before we exit the house, trying not to cry as she watches her first kid go to school for the very first time.