"D-dad?" I stuttered

"Mornin' son," He replied, "How ware yah doin' with your little… predicament."

He pointed me still in the hospital bed. I looked down and all the cuts and bruises somehow dissapeared. I poked the places where the wounds once were. I didn't feel any pain but it was a little tingle. I look back up at my dad and blink.

"I-I feel fine," I said

"If you're fine then get up," He said "Get on your feet."

I slid my legs off the bedside and carefully placed my feet on the soft white floor. It was warm with a pool of water spanning half an inch in height. I look back up and I stood up and I heard the water warp around my feet. I look at my dad and I walk towards him. I stopped right in front of him and he looked at me back.

"What?" He said, "You're just gonna fuckn' stand there, or are you gonna give me a hug."

I felt the edge of my eyes water up and I wrapped my arms around him. I felt him stroke my hair and I looked down as I heard my tears hit the water. I stood there for what seemed like hours. I opened my eyes and something struck me as odd. He wasn't in the pool of water the expanded the endless void. He was standing on the water and his boots weren't a speck wet. I look up and he looked me in the eye.

"God, your mom did a great job raising you," He said "You've grown so much."

"R-really?" I asked

"You calling me a liar kid?" He responded with a smirk

"N-no," I smiled

I let my arms fall and he turned around and began to walk away from me on the water. I paused as he kept on walking but soon he turned around.

"You coming or what?" He asked

"I'm coming," I said as I ran through the water.

We walked together as the bed faded in the distance. I looked up at my dad and he didn't look at me back as he kept on walking. I continued with him and I looked back in the direction where we were going. But I didn't know where. We walked for what seemed like thousands of miles and soon a shape appeared in the distance. Once we came closer I saw it more clearly. It was a door with a light shining through the cracks.

"H-hey," I asked "Where are we going?"

"Don't know," he replied "You never told us where we were headin'."

"What?" I asked while I walked "What does that mean? Are we in heaven?"

"No… we're in your head," He replied "There's nothing really here unless you make something here."

"What?"

"Yeah, just think of something," He stopped walking as we were 20 feet away from the door

I stopped as the sound of the water stopped as well. I paused for a second and began to imagine. Soon out of nowhere a massive ship began to emerge from the water. It flew the flag of freedom and it was flat with a tower sticking up from the top.

"USS Gerald R. Ford," My dad said as he stared at the aircraft carrier in the distance. "Nice."

I thought a bit more and soon several objects shout out of the water. I looked up and saw giant flying metal birds. They swiftly flew over the carrier and turned back around. The F-22 Raptors roared as they flew over us and into the distance. I looked back at my dad and saw him looking at me. I turned to him and I smiled. Soon a figure emerged from the water. It began to form with long flowing hair and a beautiful dress. My dad looked at the figure and he smiled. My mom formed from the water and she smiled at him back. They hugged for a few seconds before they kissed. They broke the smooching and they turned to me and I smiled back at them. But as I scoped them out I saw something again. My mom's feet weren't touching the floor either, she was levitating as much as my dad. I soon grew a face of sadness as I looked back up at them.

"Y-your not real… are you," I said

"No," My mom said, "We're not..."

"But that doesn't mean you forget about us," My dad said "Our love is as alive as you want it to be."

"W-what do you mean," I said

"Son, you have a life ahead of you," my dad said "Just because I'm gone, doesn't mean you dwell on the past like a bitch. You have women that want to marry you. Don't be so stubborn."

"Really who?" I asked

They both pointed through the door. I look at it as the light glowed even brighter. I stepped forward and I grasped the handle. I tried to open it but it wouldn't budge.

"It's not opening," I said "Can ya'll help me with this."

"I'm sorry son," My dad said "Our job is to lead you to the door. It's your job to open it."

I looked back at the door and from behind, I can hear the noises of a pool, a theater, and a school area. I look back at my parents and they nodded in agreement. I looked back at it and I placed my foot on the edge of the door frame and I began to pull with all my might. I tugged and pulled as my leg pushed. I felt my legs begin to shake, and my hands begging to hurt. I summoned the last of my strength and I gave one final tug as my parents watched. The door flew open and light-filled the already bright room. I opened my eyes as I saw what was behind the door. It was a wall of water with warped figures on the other side. I looked back at my parents and they looked at me.

"Are you going in or what?" My dad asked

I paused as I looked at the door and asked "Will I ever see you again?"

"That depends," he replied "Do you want to?"

"Y-yes I do," I replied "Then don't forget about me. Because if you do, then I'm really gone."

"I won't," I said

"Oh and son," my dad said

I turned to face my dad. Suddenly I felt arms wrap around me and pulled me into a hug.

"I'm so proud of you," He said, "and I love you with all my heart."

"Thanks, Dad," I said as I hugged him back

We broke the hug and I turned to face the wall of water in the door. I stepped forward and I touched the wall of water. It tingled as the water wrapped around my finger. The sound of playful cheers at the other side of the door filled my ears. I took a deep breath and jumped through it and suddenly a wave of shock filled my body. Hundreds of memories filled my mind. The pool, the play, the school days, the restaurant incident, the kiss of Luan, Maggie, and Leni. Playing with Lincoln, getting yelled at by Lola, getting pissed on by the dog. I felt myself being forced up as I watched these memories play before me.

I suddenly shot up off of the bed as I was covered in sweat and breathing like I was dying from heat exhaustion. I looked around and saw myself in the bed and still in the hospital room. But one thing crossed my mind.

"I gotta see them again," I said

I got up off the bed and felt my feet hit the cold floor and I gazed at the clock. It was 8:59 and I got up off the bed and began to walk out of the room. I opened the door and closed it behind me. I turned down the hallway and I began to walk. But soon that walk turned into a jog, then I began to run, but that run became a sprint. I passed the front desk lady who was asleep at the counter.

'Typical,' I thought to myself

I drifted with my feet and exited the building. I ran down the street in nothing but a hospital gown. Each street light passed like the wind as I ran to my house.

"First I'll get dressed," I said "Then I'll talk to them."