Chapter 20
Last time.
"I love you, Dad." he closed his eyes and the monitor flat lined. Just like that he was gone.
It's been four days since my dad died. He was buried yesterday and I was a mess. I couldn't stop myself from crying. If Gabriella wasn't there, I probably would have died. I knew that she went through the exact same thing with her dad, so I knew she knew how I felt. She was released from the hospital the day before the funeral, and since then she's never left my side. Gabi is sleeping now on my bed. Both of us decided it was best if we didn't go to school until next week. Zeke was discharged on the day of the funeral, but he made it just in time for the burial. I'm tearing up now.
FLASHBACK-
"Troy." My dad burst into the room before I was born.
"What?" My mom said confused.
"We are going to name our first child Troy." My mom wasn't even pregnant at that time and she was utterly perplexed.
"Okay, crazy." She had said back to him.
END FLASHBACK-
My mom had told me that story a million times. The tears were pouring now and I could barely see.
FLASHBACK-
"Troy! I brought you something." My dad came in from work. I toddled down the stairs as fast as any two-year-old could. He handed me a bright orange ball.
"Basketball!" I was so excited. The ball was small enough for my dad to cup it in both hands.
"Yeah son. Do you want to play?"
END FLASHBACK-
My dad taught me the game. The game that I will forever love. Even when he's gone.
FLASHBACK-
"I'm scared, Daddy." A seven year old boy confessed to his dad.
"Don't worry, Troy. Before you know it, it will be over." He pointed to the roller coaster they were about to go on.
"It's so fast." I whimpered.
"I know. That's the fun part. I promise you'll love it. We've been waiting for this for two years. You're finally tall enough." He smiled at me.
"You promise?"
"Yeah. I promise."
END FLASHBACK-
He was right, I did love that roller coaster. His promises always turned out right. God, I'm going to miss him.
FLASHBACK-
"Don't leave!" I cried. My dad was going on his first vacation with out me. I didn't want him to leave at all, so I barricaded his door with all the dirty clothes from my room. I thought for sure he wouldn't be able to get out. But sure enough, being the strongest man in the world he managed to open the door.
"How did you do that?" I stared at him, amazed that anyone could open that door.
"I'm SuperDad. Remember?" He beamed.
"Yes." I smiled. "I hope I can grow up and be a SuperDad like you are."
END FLASHBACK-
Still, to this day, I wish I will be a SuperDad like he is– was. I'm still not used to that. Gabi's waking up. I wiped my eyes, which there was no point in doing since I was still crying– hard.
"Troy." Gabi said. She pulled me into a hug and just let me cry on her shoulder.
Finally, after about ten minutes I managed to stop crying.
"Is this going to get any better? This ache in my body? It's like my whole body hurts. Will it ever go away?" I asked her.
"If you let it. Don't do it like I did Troy. Don't think about all the bad times and dwell on that ache in you. Don't you dare do that." Now it was her who was crying.
"You know what? How about we get through both of our aches together? I know that we can do anything when we're together." I tried to smile through the pain.
"Troy, that sounds awesome. Better than anything right now." She smiled brightly at me. Her tears were still gleaming on her cheeks. I wiped them off and gently kissed her lips.
"Great." I smiled a real smile for the first time in days.
A/N: Either one or two more left! REVIEW:)