It's hard to believe it's been a week. A week since my father died.

They flew his body here and had a funeral. The hospital let me out for that long of time. Everyone was crying, even Zane a little bit. I tried not to cry, but I guess everything got to me.

Everyone told stories, too. Grandma told the story about how dad went into the army, uncle Tobin told stories from when they were kids, but one of mom's stories really stuck out to me. The one where they were both found out I had cancer.

"C'mon buddy, it's okay," mom said, trying to calm me down at 9 months.

Dad felt my head, "He isn't warm enough to have a fever."

Mom said I reached for him, and he picked me up and held me gently. I continued to scream.

"Should we take him in?" Mom asked.

"Definitely." Dad nodded.

Mom took me out of my dad's arms again, "Let's go, then."

They both nodded and walked out to the car. Dad took me and tried to put me in my car seat. I grabbed tightly onto his shirt and cried. Dad sighed, released my grip and got in the front seat. Mom sat next to me in the back.

"Garroth, it's okay. Mommy's here," she said stroking my hair. She said my eyes were red from crying so much.

"Hey, little man, we're almost there," dad said, keeping his eyes on the road.

I was told we pulled up in the parking lot. Mom and Dad got out and dad grabbed me. They both walked into the emergency room. Mom said I calmed down and was looking everywhere with curious eyes.

"Poor baby..." mom said.

"Yeah," dad said as they both sat down in the room.

A few tests later, a doctor came in. She sat down in front of my parents. She explained to them that I had cancer. At the word "Osteosarcoma", my mom broke. She cried as my dad and the doctor talked.

"Mama?" I asked, reaching for her.

She picked me up, "Hey, baby boy."

"Mama sad?" I asked, tilting my head.

"No, baby, mommy's fine," she smiled sadly.

The doctor left us, my parents alone with me with this horrifying information. I reached for my father.

"Daddy!" I said. He picked me up.

"Hey, little man. What's up?" He asked.

"Why mama sad?" I asked.

Mom laughed, shaking her head and wiping tears, "No, baby, I'm fine."

"Nooo..." I said.

Dad laughed, "She's okay, bud."

"Look, daddy!" I showed him a small toy plane that I carried around.

"Well, would you look at that," he said taking it out of my hands and pretending to fly it around. I giggled.

I learned that day that he was positive for me. That he didn't want for me to see him sad, even though it was killing him. Mom told a few stories about dad with Zane and Vylad, and then we left to go back into the bare white hospital.

I sit there in silence. Everyone is upset, but it's definitely getting better. Vylad doesn't remember him well, so we're telling him almost everything. Zane almost seems over it, but I know he's not. As for me, I'm doing better.

Aphmau knocks on my window. I signal for her to come in. Her eyes look confused. She slowly walks in, quietly shutting the door so the only sound you hear is a soft click. She climbs on my bed and sits next to me.

"Are you okay?" I ask. She shakes her head.

"A soldier just came to our door. He said my father was hurt but... I don't know my father," she says.

"W-Well, what was his last name?" I ask.

"Lorde. It apparently would have been my last name before... you know," she says, shaking with confusion.

"S-Sargent Lorde?!" I ask.

"Yeah, did you know him?" She looks at me.

I nod, "That was my dad's best friend in combat!"

"What?!" Her eyes widen.

"Th-Thats so weird..." she says. I nod.

"What happened to him?"

"Mom told me he... that he was on the sight of a bomb and lost a limb. She didn't specify which one, though."

"Wow... I'm so sorry," I pause. "Are you gonna see him anytime soon?"

"No. He may be my father but he's not my dad. He left me," she says.

Her eyes scan around the room. I notice them, but she doesn't give eye contact to me back. Her eyes trail to a picture of my dad.

"Wow. You really do look like him," she laughs. "Mom says I look a lot like my dad but also a lot like her."

"I think you look more like your mom, but I've never seen your father so I wouldn't know," I say.

"You look nothing like your mom. Zane looks exactly like her, though. It's scary," she giggles.

"I know, right? And Vylad's like a perfect mix! It scares me!" I exclaim. She snickers.

"Yeah, I'd be scared too! I'm glad I have no siblings."

I cross my arms and pretend to pout, "Okay, Aphmau, no need to brag."

We burst into a giggling fit. I guess cancer isn't that bad, as long as you're with your friends.

~•~

I lay in the cold, darkness of the hospital, chemo slowly flowing into my body. It seems a lot colder in the night. About three thick blankets pile on top of me.

A warm hand touches the top of my head. I turn around to see mom softly smiling down at me.

"Hey," I say.

"Hi, G. How are you feeling?" She asks.

"Not good," I shake my head.

She caresses my cheek, "It'll be over soon, I promise."

"Okay," I nod.

"Listen, I know it's been a hard week for you," she sits down next to me. "But I'm here for you, okay?"

"Okay. Is Vylad doing okay?" I ask.

"He's having a hard time, too. But... I guess he doesn't remember him being around much," she says.

There's a short and awkward silence between us. I look around awkwardly but her eyes are glued to my slim body.

"You know, Garroth, he was probably more excited when you were born than when Zane and Vylad were born," she says.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"He had never been through it before. I mean, he was ecstatic when you boys were born but I think he was more excited for you," she pauses. "You formed a huge bond with him immediately."

"How?" I tilt my head.

"I don't know. But you would cry for a minute when I first held you. It was funny, but you liked being his boy."

I lay back down, smiling myself stupid. I guess my dad and I had a lot of history, and I didn't know it.

••••••••
Haha 1D.

Haha Lorde is Aphmau's dad.

Haha I'm talking to my crush.
•••••••••