The Hassle 2

It was 6:35am now, and I had been staring at my dad for about approximately four hours now. After the nurse had told me about my dad’s ailment, I was devastated and couldn’t all of a sudden, wait for it to become bright out before seeing him. I watched as his chest rose and fell, he looked really different from the last time I had seen him. Some of his red hair had already fallen pulled out, his skin was pale, he looked as skinny as ever, like he had been starving before being brought to the clinic. His right leg was swollen, and he would some times start coughing, before changing his position of sleeping. Tears fell down from my cheeks, I had hated this man all my life, without knowing why. And now that I know that I shouldn’t hate him, he’s laying on the sick bed, looking like he would die any minute from now.

“Is that you, Ana?” my dad’s shaky voice asked all of a sudden. I hadn’t noticed his eyes tear open, I quickly wiped my face discretely,

“Yes dad, it’s Ana. I’m so sorry I got here late, how are you feeling this morning?” he smiled sadly at me.

“I saw you wipe tears away from your eyes sweetie, don’t cry for me. You know karma is a bitch right? I guess she has got me now,” he chuckled. I didn’t understand how he could still joke about this kind of thing. I knew my dad to have a good sense of humour, but not on his death bed right?

“Dad, why would karma come for you? Mum told me everything, I know why you both got a divorce. The reason still feels so stupid to me, no offense…”

“None taken,” his voice came out faint.

“But dad, you know we could have worked things out as a family,” he looked into my eyes. I wanted to talk to him about anything but his sickness.

“I know I could’ve sweetie, but I was younger then. I realised late that it wasn’t much of a clever idea, I’m really sorry love. That was why I wanted to see you, in case I die tomorrow,” he chuckled.

“Dad, do not say that,” my eyes pooled with tears. “Why would you talk of dying tomorrow?”

“I have reached the worst stage of the cancer, I’ve lived with it for a while now. I’ve been cheating death, my daughter,” the tears began pouring. “How’s your mum doing? I couldn’t bring myself to see her again, that was why I didn’t call her.” 

“Do you still love her?” I knew I shouldn’t be crying in front of the patient, but I couldn’t help it.

“Yes baby, I do. But I shouldn’t tell her that, not when I’m sick and in bed.”

“Let’s stop all these emotional talks, I’ll be staying in New York till you get better,” his eyes brightened up a bit, then turned into confusion.

“What about your job back at Ireland?” I wondered how he knew about me having a job, but I didn’t ask.

“I quit my job before coming,” I lied through my teeth. Thankfully, he didn’t notice I was lying. “It’s almost time for breakfast, how about I help you get dressed and brush your teeth?”

I never thought I would know what a hospital bathroom would look like, after staying in the hospital for more than six hours, and taking a shower in their bathroom, I have come to a conclusion. I don’t want to ever have to stay in the hospital for more hours.

“How about you go to my place and drop your suitcase? You would probably just come back with some essential things you would need here,” my dad said. His gaze was fixed on the television hung on the wall opposite his bed.

“It’s a great idea dad, but I would only do that when you have someone here with you. So unless you do, I’m not going anywhere,” I replied. He glanced at me for a short second, then rolled his eyes. It’s crazy how this man could be so goofy at this time of his life, it baffles me. He picked up a pen and book from beside his bed, then scribbled some words in it.

There was a knock on the door, a man probably around my dad’s age, with dark brown hair, walked into the ward. He was smiling at me and my dad, then he had a gift bag in his hand,

“Good morning, Fred,” he looked so excited seeing my dad. “Good morning, Anastasia.” How does this stranger know my name? He stretched his hand out to shake me, “You must me wondering how I know you.” I nodded at him slowly, while simultaneously shaking his hand.

“Good morning Gideon, Ana don’t you remember Gideon Steele?” my dad turned to me and asked. The man, Gideon also turned to me with a questioning gaze, “My best friend from when you were still in New York,” as soon as he said this, realization set in. I actually know him, he was most times at our place with his son.

“I remember now, how are you doing Gideon?” I smiled back at him.

“Sweetie, you should probably get to my house then, since Gideon is here, he will be with me and keep me busy,” he handed me a piece of paper. An address was written on the paper, “That is my house address, the key is underneath the door mat.”

“Okay dad, let me go quickly. Do you want me to get you anything from home?”

“Nothing I can think of for now.”

As my father had said, I picked up the key from beneath the door mat at the front porch, then unlocked the front door. I got into the house and was shocked by what I was seeing, there were pictures of me and my mum everywhere. Pictures when I was 1 year old, when I was 5 years old, till 16 years, my eyes pooled with tears. I had hated this man all my life, and in turn he had loved me unconditionally. I walked further into the house, and was shocked by the amount of things in the house that belonged to I and my mother, her coat, my dolls, some kitchen ware, you name it. I walked to the first room I came across, some of my teen clothes laid around the room, just like I never moved out. The house was different from the one we stayed in when I was younger, but it felt like I had lived in this house too. The teats which I had been holding fell down, I dropped my suitcase on the rugged floor, then went to sit on the bed and let the tears flow.

I had been crying for a few minutes, when I heard my cell phone ringtone go off. I picked it up from where I flung it, then answered the call, though it was an unknown number,

“Ana, it’s Gideon,” he sounded devastated. 

“What happened to my father,” I silently prayed it wasn’t what I had imagined.

“He is gone,” Gideon let out a sob.

“Gone to where?”

“Your dad is dead!!”