Chapter 3: Grieving

Ned sat in his room, feeling sad and remorseful about the painful ordeal. He sniffled twice and two tears streaming from his cheeks. Sally came over to the room to find her husband and felt nervous about sitting next to him. She sighed and said, "Honey, how are you holding up?"

"I don't know. I just feel like a piece of me just tore me apart." said Ned.

"You know you can't change the past, sweetie."

Ned sighed exasperatedly and said, "I know I can't. But sometimes, I feel like I need to change the past."

"Well, I don't think that's a possiblity."

"I realize that."

"I think I understand how you feel about dealing with the situation and I just--"

"How would you understand how I feel when my own father died? I-I would've done something to take care of him more and that he'll be around. Why would you understand me anyway? I've been through the painful 10 years of my life when I heard that he has multiple surgeries and has a possibility that he would die and I didn't want to end it like this! And for you to tell me, you know how I feel is making it worse for me! You don't know how I feel, Sally O' Malley!!!" Ned screamed with so much anger, washing away from him.

Sally felt kinda hurt by that comment and she said, "I'm sorry you feel this way, honey. I-I juist wanted to.."

Ned sighed and said, "No. Don't apologize. I'm sorry. I'm just... just upset about this... this situation."

"It's okay, honey. My dad died when I was young. It was really, really hard for me. So, I understand how you feel right now." said Sally.

"I didn't realize, honey. I was just focused on my dad dying that I just feel so sad inside." said Ned.

"It's okay, honey. I understand."

Ned put his head on Sally's shoulder and she patted his head for some comfort and he closed his eyes. He decided to check in on his kids to see if they're okay. When he came in his daughter's room, he asked, "Are you guys okay?"

"We're okay, dad. How you you guys?" asked Hooly.

The other 95 replied and Ned got the idea. He said, "Okay, just hang in there. It'll be all right."

Ned exited out of the girls' room and went into Jojo's room to see how he's feeling. He knocked on the door and Jojo opened the door and he can see a few tears coming down on his eyes.

Ned asked, "You okay, son?"

Jojo sighed heavily and said, "Yeah, I.. I guess so."

Jojo went to his bed and Ned sat down near him and asked, "What's wrong, son?"

"I'm just... sad that grandpa had to go away." said Jojo.

"So am I. I'm sorry you feel that way, son."

"I'm just trying not to be sad in front of you, and break down and cry, because you'll do the same thing."

"It's okay to let it out sometimes."

"If I do, I can't be brave... for you."

Ned held him and let him sit on his lap and asked, "Who told you that you could be brave for me?"

"From Hooly and Hailey. They told me not to make you sad that I shouldn't make you feel worse." explained Jojo.

Ned felt kinda distraught and said, "They were just telling to do the right thing, but they were wrong about keeping this from me. I'm gonna have to talk to them about it. You know, we'll always share our feelings, no matter what it's coming through."

Jojo sighed and stood up through the room, then looked at his dad and said, "I really loved grandpa. I was his little Jojo."

Ned closed his eyes and said, "I was his little Neddy." He lets out a long, sad sigh and explained to Jojo, "He used to always take care of me, now he comes here and I can't even take care of him. Son, it's all my fault. I mean, if I hadn't have took care of him more, I--"

"Hey, it's not your fault. His heart was old." said Jojo.

Ned puts his hand on Jojo's shoulder and said, "I know, son, but it still hurts."

"It's okay to let it out."

"I see you got that from me."

Jojo could already feel the tears coming down and he asked, "Dad? Is it okay to cry?"

Ned sees the tears coming through his son's eyes and a few tears were starting to come out in his eyes also. He was shaken up and answers, "Of course."

Ned hugged his son and started to cry on his shoulders and Jojo did the same thing. Sally came in Jojo's room and saw him and his dad crying and hugging. Ned rubbed his son's head and felt really broken inside, thinking about his dad. Sally decides to leave them alone for a minute and have their comfort.