Thanks y'all for your support, it really means a lot to me. I'll try to update as fast as possible now that I have time, but I have more stories here if you want to check them. If you have any suggestions please dm me. Likewise, if you want me to change anything, tell me, and I'll try to change it adapting it to my ideas. By the way, pardon the mistakes, but if I correct them I can't post them so fast.
Chapter 2
"Hope? Hey girly girl I'm your daddy. Oh yeah, you're probably wondering who these guys are. They may seem tough and angry but they are just worried about you. They're your uncles. Well, not technically, but they will make sure that nothing happens to you. Your mam..your mama s..shh..she, she won't be there when you grow up but I'll... I'll try my best. Fuck. You know what, I'll never be able to take care of you, I'm just a worthless drank man... Sorry Hope" I then started running till I came face to face to a wall, falling to the ground.
The next thing I know I'm hugging Sodapop like I hugged Kathy, sobbing uncontrollably, remembering everything that I've lost today. Hell, not even today. Tonight. 12, 6, even 5 hours ago my life was perfect. Well as perfect as you can expect it to be when you live in a neighborhood where kids learn to live the way others despise.
We both swore that we wouldn't raise our daughter that way. Now, it's no longer US. It's me. And that being optimistic, cause I don't even have the certainty of bringing my daughter home. It would be a miracle they said. She's a miracle. She's my last hope. In her is my last chance of raising a family, of pursuing the wishes that hours ago were my reality. We had been waiting for our daughter for some weeks, being she almost full term. Now our dreams have vanished as the 3 most important women in my life are no longer amongst us. If Hope dies, then all my hope will be gone. Everything will be gone forever.
"Why?"
"Huh buddy? Whatcha saying?" - I hadn't realized that my previous question had been heard by my friends.
"Why? Why everything happens to us?" - I got to say before more tears started to fall.
"Listen Two Bit, you now feel like your world has turned upside down, just like 2 years ago, but you'll pull through because you have Hope and you have us" - he cups my face and forces me to look at him. Soda has this look on his eyes that makes you feel cared whenever you need it. He then says - "We'll always be there for ya, okay buddy?"
"I don't need anyone" - I did, but at that moment I was too stubborn and blind to recognize what I was feeling. It was easier to deny any kind of help than dealing with it. It was too hard. - "Is my daughter who needs a real father and a caring mother, not me. I won't do her any good."
"You do need someone, you need Cathy Two Bit, and we understand that. You're suffering whether you admit it or not. Just look at yourself, you're a mess and we wouldn't expect it to be other way, but don't deny it. You won't be judged, you won't be less man for crying." - Soda said softly
"Man, I don't know what I would have done if I were you, I would probably have run away. I would have spent the night drinking my sorrows, and yes I would have come back for her but you were and are much braver than me. You stayed here and gave your daughter the name she deserves as a human being. You were brave enough to see her and make her your priority after one hell of a night. Soda said it. You need us, if not for support to remind you who you are, where do you belong to, what you have done for the others." And with that speech Steve came and hugged me, freeing me from Soda's comfort for a moment. When only the two of us could hear it he said "And besides, who would tell her what her daddy did before she came if not us, huh?" He grinned, and above I knew that I was lucky to have them.
"Here, I got you an ice pack for that nose Two Bit" - Darry told me as I slowly got up, swaying and grabbing him for support, the events of the night hitting me like a ton of bricks. - "Easy, I got you buddy" As he led me to a chair I stopped him, not feeling too hot all of a sudden.
"Buddy? What is it?" I fell my head spinning and my stomach lurching and I knew what was about to happen.
"I don't feel good. I'm gonna be sick" - The following minutes passed in a blur, as I felt Darry's strong arms half carrying me and sitting me in a chair. Just in time a bucket was placed near my lips, allowing me to empty my stomach. I hadn't eaten in a while so I just started dry heaving before breaking down again.
"Shhh, calm down, just breathe through it, okay? Try to breath easy and slow Two Bit." - Everyone was now watching me, and as Soda realized this he frantically looked for a nurse, while Darry tried to make me feel better. "You'll relax soon, just breathe come on" However I couldn't bear with it anymore, and as I stopped throwing up I began to hyperventilate. What I saw before drifting off to sleep was the gang's concerned looks and a nurse sticking me with a needle.
"No... no I... my daugh... she... make sure she..."
"She'll be fine buddy, one of us will take care of it. Now rest." Darry whispered, stroking my hair as I was placed on a stretcher. I didn't know what they drugged me with but it sure was good cause I felt completely numb and it allowed me to recall every beautiful moment I lived with Cathy and my family. I didn't know whether it was real or not, but it sure felt like it and after living the hardest moments of my life I was able to see myself smiling, sitting next to Cathy, placing my hand on her belly, feeling the kicks of our daughter that would soon arrive to lighten up our lives.
As that memory fade away another one came to my mind. Therein my mother and my sister were cooking the cake for Hope's baby shower. They were all smiles, and I could hear their laughs as I suddenly came into the room and threw one spoon full of frosting to them, earning a reprimand from my mother who couldn't hold back her laugh while doing so. Before the pill kicked in I was able to recall one last memory. Therein, the gang and I were picking up everything that Kathy had requested. At that moment she had been sick with a nasty cold but didn't want any longer to prepare Hope's room so it was up to me to by everything. The paint for the walls, the crib, her clothes, toys and a wardrobe.
We were all choosing the most beautiful things we could think of, cause that was for my daughter and she deserved the best. That's why I didn't want to be her father when I knew that my wife had died, cause a high percentage of everything that I loved had then vanished and then what would she have? I wasn't good enough for her but I had made a promise to myself when I knew that I was going to become a father.
I would give her everything that I had. And now, there were just two things left . As I wasn't sure that I could give her my love anymore, I mentally promised her the next best thing. Her uncles' love. The gang's love. My brothers' love.
