CHAPTER 5
872 Words
CAROLINE'S POV
I just stood there, petrified. There was blood dripping from dad's nose. I was so confused. What happened? He was fine in the morning. Happy and healthy as usual. What changed? Phoebe and Elly were doing something but I couldn't focus on them at all. Everything that was happening around me was a blur.
"Caroline? CAROLINE!" a voice brought me out of my trance. Mom.
"Caroline!" she said with tears in her eyes.
My voice begin to c***k when I said,
"Mom? Mom, I d-don't know what happened. I just came back and he-he was l-lying there unconscious. Th-there was blood in his nose. I-I...I don't know what happened, Mom. I-I....".
"Shhhhh darling. It'll be okay. It will all be okay." Mom said cutting of my rant.
I wrapped my hands around her waist, leaning into her warm embrace. Tears were pouring out of my eyes.
"Its gonna be okay, Caroline." Elly said, comforting me.
Eventually an ambulance stopped in front of our house. Nurses were coming out with a stretcher. In a blink they placed dad on the stretcher rolling it into the ambulance. Mom and I immediately entered the car and followed the ambulance. Elly and Phoebe went back home to inform their parents. In 10 minutes we've reached the hospital. The nurses immediately brought dad in the ICU. Mom looked worried but I didn't see any signs of shock in her face. Making me think she might know what's wrong with dad.
"Mom?" I asked.
"Yes, sweetie".
"What's wrong with dad. He was fine in the morning. How can he just get sick like that in a few hours?".
Mom looked hesitant, like she was hiding something from me. After a few seconds of silence she speaked,
"Look, sweetie" she turned facing me,
"This is gonna be hard to digest but I think you deserve to know." She looked deep in my eyes.
"Your dad has stage four brain tumour......". My hands started to tremble in the news that I heard.
"A brain tumour?" I asked, my voice cracking. Moms eyes filled with tears,
"We detected it in the first stage, 10 years ago.".
" 10 years ago? B-but how didn't I know?".
"We tried our best to hide it. He didn't want you knowing this. With school and all. It was all good until last month. He had excessive nose bleeding and he was losing weight, I assume you noticed that." I nodded
"We decided to check and that's when the doctors said he didn't have much time.". Tears started pooling in my eyes as my mom pulled me into her embrace.
"Look here Caroline. Your father is a survivor, he WILL survive this, okay." She said kissing my forehead.
I cried my heart out in her tight embrace.Elly's parents and Phoebe's parents came about 10 minutes ago. I explained everything to them while mom was talking to their moms. The whole time. I couldn't stop crying. I'm surprised there are tears still left in my eyes.
"Hey, Care. Its gonna be okay" Phoebe said comforting me.
"We know Uncle Rick. He is a great man. And I believe that nothing will happen to him. You just need to be strong okay.".
"Yeah, Caroline. Be strong. That's exactly what your dad would want." Elly added.
They pulled me into a warm hug. I'm lucky to have my friends by my side now. I learned into their embrace. In a while, Dr. Phil, our family doctor, comes out from the ICU, talking to the nurse. Mom immediately walked towards him.
"Excuse me, Dr. Phil, what's his condition?" my mom asked nervously.
The doctor glanced at me with a sceptical look on his face.
"Why don't we talk in my offi-".
"No. I wanna know. What's wrong with him?" I asked cutting of the doctor.
He sighed and started
"He's gone into coma". My eyes widened.
"Coma?" my mom asked tears filling her eyes.
I couldn't stand to see her like this. She loves dad. I wonder how heartbroken she is right now.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Williams, we tried our best. But if you and Caroline talk to him he may recover. Slowly but surely.".
"C-can I see him?" I asked, stuttering.
"Of course".
I went into the room and saw him lying there on the hospital bed. And without realizing tears started pooling in my eyes. I couldn't control it. The tears, the pain. I took his hand in mine.
"Dad?" I said choking.
"Can you hear me?....Dad, I know you can hear me. Please dad, I need you. Mom needs you.".
"I can't go to another family gathering without you. How would I answer all their dumb questions?" I said laughing bitterly and humourless
"I know that I would lose you one day. But not now. It's too soon. I'm only 14. It's the first day of school, dad. You need to be there for my graduation and when I enter college and grow to be a woman. I wanna hear your voice, your laugh, see your beautiful eyes again. I would die to just get another moment with you dad." I said, crying.
"Please" I begged.
"COME BACK DADDY" I fell on my knees, crying.
- Writer
