ise

he only sound the rhythmic beeping of machines.

like a surreal film. Harrison. The mo

about. I just had to ta

ntle hand stroking my hair. I

Are you in pain?" I

e soft, filled with a sadness a

rasped. "I'

of fear tightened in my s

my hand surprisingly strong. "If I don't s

ead washe

f I hadn't... if I hadn't taken you from that orphanage all those years

. "Dad... what are

y." Each word seemed to cost h

axis. I opened my mout

. He was delirio

ocket engraved with the Bass family crest. A few days later, child services transferred you from the hospital to t

. so selfish... Years later, I remarried, and Leo was born. You

elling a story about someone else

ttling sound. He tried to reach

he c

mouth, splattering across my fac

rom my throat.

es losing focus. He was still whis

over, my own tears mixing with his blood on

ushed in. The room d

ive GI bleed! Get h

lled me out of the room. The

wall, my legs givin

of horror. My father's

your rea

ass f

rr

lations, delivered in the

cked into a black hole, th

e operating room was still on. A nurse came out and s

s at his boarding school. I co

llably. I scrolled through my contacts, a long l

mb stopped

son S