It was terrible not knowing what was going on. Dad had seemed fine two days ago. But by the time I got home from school, I could tell he wasn't feeling well. Oh he tried to hide it. Especially from Stephanie and Michelle who always begged for attention. Stephanie was eight and Michelle was three, they needed dad more. I wasn't jealous, honest. But now, now I needed dad more than anything.

I had had mom and dad to myself for five years before Stephanie was born, so I had had my needing dad time. I was thirteen now, and wanted my independence. Still I didn't like to see dad sick or hurt. And now as I watched dad being rolled out of the house on a stretcher it broke my heart.

"He's gonna be okay, right aunt Becky?" Stephanie asked.

"Of course he is Steph, dad will be just fine." I interjected.

"D.J, I know this is difficult for us, but I honestly don't know how your dad will be. He was non responsive. It's pretty serious."

Just then the phone rang and aunt Becky got up to get it. "Hello? How is he? I see. Yes I'll tell the girls. I'll talk to you later."

"Who was that?" I asked.

"Your Uncle Jesse. They still don't know exactly what is going on. They haven't seen a doctor yet. But Jesse didn't sound too positive."

My heart now froze. "Aunt Becky, is dad going to die?" I asked.

"I don't know D.J. It's not sounding good right now. Why don't you take your sisters and get to bed. I will let you know if I hear more."

I nodded and tucked Stephanie and Michelle into bed. I didn't want to go to bed myself. But sleep took me sooner than I thought it would.

The next morning Becky was making breakfast, her eyes were red and puffy like she had been crying.

"Aunt Becky?"

"Your dad is in a coma. He may have some brain damage. They don't know yet. They may not know until he wakes, if he does that is. D.J. your father could die. It's a real possibility."

"He can't. Who will take care of Stephanie and Michelle?" I asked.

"You still have me, your uncle Jesse and Joey." She said.

It wasn't good enough. I loved all three of them very much, but they weren't dad.