Prompt #6: Onerous
((tw: parent with terminal illness))
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“It won’t get better.”
The doctor’s words cut through my heart and if my father hadn’t been there to support me, I think I would have fallen on the floor.
“What do you mean, that it won’t get better? It has to get better!” I protested with hardly any voice left.
He looked at me with a gentle kind of pity and shook his head. “My dear, this illness can’t be cured. She still has months ahead of her, but she’ll get weaker and weaker until…”
“No.” I whispered. “No! You… you’re mistaken. You need to examine her again. You got it all wrong!”
“Kitten.” My father’s voice was barely audible and his hand was hurting mine, he was squeezing it so hard.
“Thank you.” He told the doctor, as pale as I ever saw him. “For telling us. My father suffered through the same, so I know there are medicines that can help for a while…”
The doctor nodded, with a sad expression. “I’ll come by tomorrow with a list, you’ll get everything you need.” He looked at us, shaking his head. “You need to be prepared though… taking care of her, it will be onerous. We can make her as comfortable as possible but it will require an effort on both of you.”
***
She was awake when we went to see her. Her red hair had white strands now and her frame was slighter than I would have liked. She looked at us, bit her lower lip and slowly nodded. Then she patted the bed and motioned us to go over.
She raised a thin arm when I came near and dragged me on the bed. I laid down with my back on her chest and her arm over my stomach. Her fingers intertwined with mine and she squeezed hard.
I heard a choked sound come from my father and when I looked up, his grey eyes were full of tears; I never thought the day would come where I saw my father cry.
And then he climbed on the bed too, behind my mother and held her fast while she was holding me.
We didn’t say a word.
We stayed like that for a long while.
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Misty 