Yorkie's parents, Albert and Margret, nervously entered Yorkie's room. It was not their first time seeing her since the accident, but it was their first time in this particular hospital. It would also be the first time they heard her "speak", albeit not using her own voice, since the accident (and since the argument). They weren't quite sure what to expect. They hoped that she would be the same girl they remembered all those years ago. But they were quite aware of the fact that she had been conscious this whole time, and wondered what she had thought about during the intervening years. Surely she wasn't still holding a grudge, after all this time, surely not. But what they ended up finding out was actually much worse.
Hello mom and dad. Its good to be able to seek to you again, after being silenced for such a long time.
"Its good to hear your voice, sweetheart" Margret said "well, you know what I mean"
"This is a remarkable piece of technology" Albert noted, although it wasn't his area of expertise, he had some idea of how it worked.
I'm sure it is, but that's not really what you're here to talk about, is it?
"Well, not exactly" Margret said
"Alright, let's talk about it" Albert said, deciding not to mince words
You blame yourselves for my accident
They said nothing, but a look of sadness came over Margret's face.
But I don't. I do however, remember what you said before it, and I will never forget it.
"I know, and..." Albert began "You have to understand, the position you put us in"
I don't care. I'm not holding a grudge or anything. I couldn't be the daughter you wanted, and I've come to accept that.
"Sweetheart, we only ever wanted what was best for you" Margret insisted, on the verge of tears.
No, you wanted what was best for you. You wanted me to be something I'm not, never was, and never could be.
"We just wanted you to be happy. That's all we've ever wanted" Albert interjected
"Can you honestly say you could ever be happy, being a, you know, one of those people" Margret said
You can say it. LESBIAN. And I was, briefly. I would have stayed that way if not for this.
"Its not like you would have ever been accepted" Albert said
Watch the news sometime. The world has changed, even if you haven't.
After a few moments of awkward silence, Margret and Albert nodded in reluctant agreement.
"Point taken, and I'm sorry for some of the things I said, but you didn't have to run off like that" Albert said
Run off? It was your idea for me to leave.
"But it wasn't mine" Margret reminded her "I wanted you to stay, and for us to talk about it"
Why? Would it have changed anything? Would you have come any closer to accepting it, to accepting me? Are you any closer now?
"You were a child" Albert shot back "You didn't know what you were saying"
And what am I now?
"You're our daughter, and we love you" Margret said
Prove it!
Margret was taken aback by her daughter's forthrightness. She was normally so shy and reserved, but this conversation had made her angry, and had put her right back in the same head-space she was all those years ago, during their last argument.
"How? Whatever you need, just let us know, and we'll make it happen. Money is no object" Albert said, and meant it, in the moment.
Let me dye, I mean die.
Albert and Margret looked at each other in a state of shock. This was the last thing they had expected to hear from their daughter.
"We can't do that" Margret said, crying a little
"You know how we feel about that" Albert added "Besides, what if they find a cure, a treatment, I mean, you've just got your voice back. Surely that gives you some hope?"
No, it doesn't, and I promise not to hold it against you. I've been a prisoner of this pathetic excuse for a body for long enough. Haven't I've suffered enough? Shouldn't my sentence end?
"You don't know what you're saying" Albert said "Medical science is making advances all the time..."
Don't give me that. I'm not a child. I know who I am and I know what I want. Don't speak to me like I'm still a child.
"But we just got you back, after all these years" Margret said
No, you didn't. The truth is, I died on that road, all those years ago. My body just hasn't caught up.
"I know this might be hard for you to accept right now, but you could have many happy, healthy years of life ahead of you. We just couldn't live with denying you that possibility" Albert insisted
And what if I wanted to spend those years with a woman? Would you still be so keen for me to live then?
"Well, if you're just going to insult us..." Albert began, before being cut off by Yorkie.
No, I'm serious. If I were to marry a woman, would you come to the welding? Would you give us your bless ting? What if wee wanted to have kicks, I mean kids? Would you be okay with that?
"I mean, its got to be better than your current, situation" Margret awkwardly suggested
"I don't know" Albert admitted "But we'll never find out, if we don't..."
But its never going to happen. Its a fantasy, I've long since given up, just like your fantasy of having a strait daughter, Mary ying a man and having two and a calf kids. The difference is, you haven't given that up yet, and you need to.
At this point, Margret began sobbing uncontrollably. Albert lead her out of the room, saying "We'll talk about this when you're in a better mood"
Unfortunately, that would never happen, as this would be Albert and Margret's final time seeing their daughter in this, or any other, hospital.