As Rick peered into the room he saw his father sitting on the hospital bed facing the window. Machines with strange lights and sounds filled the room along with the strong smell of plastic. It wasn't a place Rick liked to be, but he would do it a million times over to be with his father.

"Hola p-padre!" Rick announced himself again a little louder, unsure if his father had heard him the first time. His dad's reactions were not as swift when he didn't speak in his father's native tongue.

His father turned slowly away from the window to see his son standing in the doorway. With dark hair, dark eyes and a sweet smile, the man gestured with his arms for Rick to come inside. Rick noticed he was much thinner than his at his visit last week and had tubes coming out of his nose. The tape and IV dripping into his dad's arm looked especially painful. Never the less, Andres opened his arms wide to receive his son.

"Mi hijo! Venga aquí para un abrazo, Ricardo!" his father said weakly with a smile.

(My son, come here for a hug, Ricardo!)

Rick made his way across the room and embraced his father. The times his dad had enough strength to hold him would forever stay in his memory. It would be brought up often in his mind, always in Rick's darkest times. After a few seconds, his father took Rick by the arms and gave him a once over, wearing a stern look.

"Ricardo…. Have those boys been hassling you again? You look a mess!" his father said sadly.

"No-no, I'm o-ok papa. Just, just fell making my way h-here." Rick lied. He knew his father didn't believe him, but it wasn't customary for a man to discuss his weaknesses. Rick was a man in his father's eyes, and he needed to be strong. Especially now.

Rick sat on the bed with his father, both staring out the window. Andres looked over at him.

"How is school going, Ricardo? Is Sister Mary-Anne still a stuck up prude as ever?" Andres joked.

"Haha, y-yes she's a bit…scary, sometimes." Rick said. "We've started t-to study religious science in class. I'm…I'm not sure I believe some o-of it, Papa… I mean, it…it just isn't logical."

Andres smiled warming down at Rick. "Hijo, not many things in this life are logical… our relationship with Dios is very personal. We all take our own journey to find him and our place in the universe. Don't worry my hijo, you will find your place with him one day. He will speak to you, and you will understand."

Rick wished with all of his heart for this to be true. As of now, his father was God. He was the only voice that ever heard Rick.

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The time Rick was with Andres always passed too quickly. After a few minutes a light knock sounded at the door. The same nurse at the counter peeked her head in and spoke with a soft, warm voice.

"Hey there Rick, visiting hours are over for today. And Andres, it's time for your medication."

She shut the door to allow the two a proper goodbye. Rick hugged his father one last time before getting up and moving towards the door. He mentally cursed the bullies for stealing time away from his dad. He still had so many things he wanted to tell him, say to him.

"Padre? There's a, a contest next week in the c-city. It's for science… I think I am going to enter, I've invented a couple new th-things… I think you'll like then! I'll br-bring them over Monday so you can see!" Rick said with a smile, trying to hide his disappointment that their time together was so short.

Andres gave him a warm look and replied, "I would love that, Ricardo. I always look forward to seeing you."

Rick nodded and began to walk out the door. But not before his father called for him one more time.

"Ricardo?" Andres said.

"Yes, Padre?" Rick turned to face his father again.

"Please Ricardo… say a prayer for your mother." Andres said as he turned away towards the window again.

Rick felt a sting of sadness in his chest at the mention of mother.

"…I always do, Padre. Te amo." Rick said, trying to hold firmness in his voice.

"Te amo, Ricardo." Andres said quietly, almost to himself.

Rick pulled the door closed behind him.

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Rick began his long walk home through the city in the night. Although it wasn't ever really night in New York. With so much artificial light pollution it was impossible for it to be completely dark. Rick hated the city. He hated the smells, he hated the people, he hated the noise, and worst of all he could never see the stars. The stars had always fascinated Rick. He wondered what it must be like to be surrounded by true darkness while billions of stars and planets twinkled all around him. It seemed like the perfect escape for Rick. Total silence, no people, no smells, just stars. He sighed and looked up to the sky as he continued down the street. Nothing. Only the ugly red gray glow of industry filled the sky.

Rick wasn't permitted to talk about space travel at St. Joseph's Catholic School in the heart of the city. The only reason he went these was because of his father. As a devoted catholic, Andres was able to get Rick a full scholarship to attend the school. Rick had hated the school and hated church from the very beginning. The idea of believing in an entity that controlled the entire universe that was pleased or displeased by the act of attending church was ludicrous to him. However he did believe in his father, which was all the faith he needed.

Rick was disrupted by his contemplations as he found himself in front of his apartment complex. He stood on the steps, looking up at the building for several minutes. He was dreading what would be waiting for him behind the door. After he knew he couldn't stall any longer, he entered the building code as the decaying old, rusty door swung open. The elevator had been broken since they moved in several years ago, so every day Rick trudged up 8 flights of steps to him home. He eventually stood in front of a faded green door numbered 823.

He took a deep breathe, and stepped inside.

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Reviews welcome, more to come soon! Thanks for reading!