Dance With My Father- One Shot
A/N: This story is "for" Daddy'sLittleCannibal, whom I'm sure you have heard by now faked her death by drunk driving. It's a serious thing, not something to fake. I hope this story helps people realize that. It is a true story, btw, even if it doesn't seem real. The only thing different is the characters.
I remember it all very clearly. The crash. The lights. The sounds. The pain. But first, the conversation.
*flashback, 3 years ago*
"Thanks Dad, that was so cool! I can't believe you got us to swim with dolphins at Sea World!" I said.
He looked at me in the rear view mirror and grinned. "Don't mention it, Max."
I leaned back in my seat and sighed. My dad was so cool, he was always taking me to do some amazing things: Scuba diving, tennis, and now swimming with dolphins. My mom never came with us. She was always doing something with Angel, my little sister. She was her favorite, and secretly, I knew I was my dad's. Enjoying this moment with my dad meant everything to me. It seemed like he was the only one that really liked having me around.
My dad turned up the radio on my favorite station. "How about some music?" It was on commercial though.
"I swear there is more talking on this show than music," I muttered."
"Sometimes they are important too. Listen." He turned it up louder.
"Our reports show that 89 people have been involved in car crashes due to drunk drivers this week in the state of Florida," the reporter announced. My dad turned it down again.
"Max Batchedler," eyeing me in the mirror, "don't you ever drink and drive." He hardly ever used this tone of voice with me. Only one other time two years ago when I ran away and was gone for three days.
"Promise me right now, because I am not going to lose you that way." I hid a smile. Not because it was funny, it was terribly serious. It just showed how much he cared.
"I promise Dad. It's okay." His look of concern turned to that of relief.
"Thanks Dad, it really means a lo-"
The swerve. The sound of screeching car breaks. I was yanked against the seat belt. Then there was the crash and the fire.
*flashback ends*
A tear slips from my eye. The lights and the sounds.
*flashback*
I saw the flashing red and blue lights, heard the sirens. For some weird reason the radio on the car still worked, still on commercial, but a small flicker of consciousness told me it was about to start playing music.
I cringe at the memory of the pain.
It took awhile for it to hit.
Somehow I ended up lying next to the car, which was in flames. They were licking at my arms, and were leaving severely painful burns. The cuts on my hand, left arm, and back burned like the fire. Then I remembered; my father.
Where was he? I couldn't see him as I scanned the scene around me. I saw the police, paramedics, and firemen helping the one who had hit us, looking for my dad, looking for me.
Then I heard the explosion. It was small, but I was close enough that I started to black out. The last thing I remembered before I lost consciousness was seeing my dad being dragged out of the vehicle, and hearing this song coming now from the cars that had stopped to see if they could help.
Back when I was a child Spin me around till I fell asleep If I could get another chance Ooh, ooh When I and my mother would disagree Later that night when I was asleep If I could steal one final glance Sometimes I'd listen outside her door I know I'm prayin' for much too much
Before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high
And dance with my mother and me and then
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I knew for sure
I was loved
Another walk, another dance with him
I'd play a song that would never, ever end
How I'd love, love, love to dance with my father again
To get my way I would run from her to him
He'd make me laugh just to comfort me, yeah, yeah
Then finally make me do just what my mama said
He left a dollar under my sheet
Never dreamed that he
Would be gone from me
One final step, one final dance with him
I'd play a song that would never, ever end
'Cause I'd love, love, love to dance with my father
again
And I'd hear her, mama cryin' for him
I pray for her even more than me
I pray for her even more than me
But could You send back the only man she loved
I know You don't do it usually
But Lord, she's dyin' to dance with my father again
Every night I fall asleep
And this is all I ever dream.
*Flashback ends*
I glanced at my calendar, it was June 24th. "I am fifteen now," I thought, "exactly three years from the crash. I looked over at the man in the corner on the bed, the burns, scars, and pained look on his face. His eyes hadn't opened for three years. I remembered last year, and the year before, how I had played the song I heard before the black out, before the paramedics told me my father and I would live, before I saw the face of my father in a coma, and before I knew it was a drunk driver that had done this to him.
"Ha." I gave a harsh laugh at the bitter irony of his words before the crash. I learned that lesson the hard way.
I looked into his face, and watched the faint rise and fall of his chest.
I knew that he was alive. I also knew that even if he did wake up, I would never be able to dance with my father again.
A/N: almost all of this story is true. It isn't a joke, it could kill or hurt someone you love. My friend's dad did eventually wake up from his coma, but is paralyzed from the waist down. If you have lost someone or know someone who has to a drunk driver, please review, I'm sorry for your loss.