Why Me?

Butler's POV (next day)

Artemis is still burning hot. I am not sure if either he is sick, the machines are malfunctioning or the doctors are stupid. His eyes keep twitching as though he is trying to prevent something from happening. I really wish that he would wake up. My fear keeps rising as every second passes. It may be too late...

Artemis's POV (still in his dreams)

I began to feel that I was not his son. He treats me as though I am an impatient fly always flying up to him and disturbing him with my presence. After that incident, I vowed that I would change. I would do everything to make father believe that I am worth his time. I would be the son that he wants to have. But it is just so hard turning back to the things that you have been accustomed to do. But I will surely do everything to change myself and live up to my father's expectations. I would do everything to have a father who loves and cares for me and a father who is willing to drop almost everything and share his time with me. I trained myself to not crying in every sad situation that I became entangled unto. I lessened my friends for they make me want to change my mind. Occasionally, I would talk to them but after some time, I barely uttered a single word to them. I studied hard and practiced myself to his usual ignorant behavior. I became more and more like father. Time came and my graduation arrived. Outside, my emotions are unreadable but inside, I was ecstatic. I knew my father would surely be there. I have done everything to by someone who is worth his time, someone who is more like a business partner than a son. I was pretty sure mother would be there for she had always supported me. The day came instantly. All of my classmates were walking around with their parents, taking pictures and such. I was the only one who was sitting calmly on my seat, minding my own business. Of course, mother was there with Butler and Juliet. Mother looked as though she had never been to meetings like these. She talked to some mothers here and there. Finally, someone talked.

"Let us now stand for the national anthem and the opening prayer."

Everybody stood and started to sing except me. I was not made for singing. After the opening prayer, the principal talked about how proud he was of being there and of being the one to pass out the diplomas. The principal and the vice principal got into position of handing out the diplomas. I looked at my back to where the parents where sitting. Father and mother were there, sitting calmly. Father had just arrived. The valedictorian's name was to be called first. Of course, the valedictorian was me. Just as they were about to start, father's phone rang and he answered it immediately. He said muffled replies. I turned my head to look back in front. I thought it was nothing and that he would be there when they call my name.

'The valedictorian is... Artemis Fowl the Second!" the principal said proudly.

I got up calmly and walked towards the front. Some of my old friends were clapping. Mother stood up to walk with me. I looked at her, puzzled. Where was father? He was there a while ago.

"Where's father?" I whispered to mother softly.

"He had to go somewhere. It was an emergency. I forced him not to but he said..." mother's voice trailed off.

"What did he say?" I asked eagerly as we got up the stairs.

"He said that...that it was more important than this stupid graduation." She whispered softly.

She said nothing after that. As we both walked in front of the stage, we were both silent, both trained to our own thoughts. As I accepted my diploma, tears fell down my face. The principal thought that they were 'tears of joy.' But he didn't know the truth. They were simple tears, tears like all the others. They fell because of sadness, because of failure. I cannot believe that after everything that I had done for him, he still did not care for me. He still did not feel the love that I feel for him. Sometimes, I envied those TV shows that show a perfect 'father and son' relationship. I wish I had one like that with father. I wish he would share a moment with me. The only time that he shared a moment with me was when he taught me the value of gold. Why can't I be more like the others? Well...not like the others who don't have money, but those who even though they do not have money, they still love each other and spend time with each other. Why does it always have to be me?

Major Holly Short: Okay... I am not sure if Artemis really had a graduation but please bear with my thoughts. And please don't cry...