Searching for Change ch.2 (pt2)

“Tiger, never forget where you came from or the values in life that I taught you,” she would say in a weak tone. Even at this state in her life, regardless of the amount of pain that she experienced everyday, she still found some way to encourage me as if we were in opposite positions. Making me wonder if dad had the slightest idea of what was happening right at this moment.

After walking from the bus stop all alone , I heard the phone ring in the background. Originally, I thought it was the doctor calling in telling me how mom only had about a week to live, but I heard a voice that I haven’t heard in a long time.

“Lucas, son.” Tears filled my eyes but I was not sure if those tears were out of anger, sadness, or happiness.

“Where have you been, you said you will keep in touch, hell you said you will be back in a year but it’s been three!” These words flowed through the phone with a sense of urgency and abandonment revealing to me I was more angry than anything.

“I know, I know son and I wish I was there with you now more than ever,” I could hear the frog in his throat. “For you-- for your mother.”

“Mother ? How did you know?”

“Son that’s not important; I’m calling now to let you know that I am coming home tomorrow. I can’t be away any longer.”

“So you're telling me that you could have came home earlier?” I stated trying to grasp everything that was occurring.

“Yes.. no, Look I can’t explain son and you won’t understand so don’t ask me any more damn questions!”

I was taken aback by his tone. As long as I have known my father he has never cursed, let alone at me. What happened to him in Russia? He’s not the same person that left three years ago.

Mom was in the hospital so my dad had one of his old associates take me to the airport ,so we can go get her some flowers and chocolate. Seeing him at the airport I felt my stomach drop, not just because I haven’t seen him in about three years but he didn’t look like the same person.

Instead of being as strong as Popeye after eating spinach ,he was pretty scrawny with long hair like a rock star and a thick beard. I never even knew he could grow facial hair so seeing him like this was just weird. Still, I missed him like crazy, so I approached him with a smile and open arms.

“Lucas we don’t have time for that.” His voice was so dry and cold as he just grabbed my hand and began walking in a fast pace out the airport as if someone was following us. We got into the car and went to the florist.

“Daisies, do you think she will like daisies ,Lucas?” my dad asked with a dazed look on his face.

“Really dad, you know that mom is allergic to daisies. She’s already dying; do you want to kill her faster?” I was so surprised that he didn’t remember that.

“Son what do you want to give your mom for Valentine’s Day?” my father asked, as we searched the aisles looking for the perfect gift for my mother. It was the first time I ever picked out a gift for this day and I see people get flowers all the time.

“Daddy daddy look,” I said gazing down the aisle as the bright yellow flowers caught my eyes. “How about these dad?” I asked excitedly,  proud at the fact that I got to pick mommy’s gift.

“Son that is very sweet of you ,but your mommy is allergic to daisies they will make her throat swell up ,so she won’t be able to breathe.”

That was right before he left on his trip to Russia how could he forget such a significant fact about my mom’s life. Eventually we just picked out some roses and we were on our way to go see her.

“Room 531,” the nurse prompted us. I walked swiftly towards the elevator because I couldn’t wait to see mom’s smile again like she used to back when she felt better. We got to the room and the door was closed ,so I knocked only to get no response. I looked at the door and it had her name on it, therefore I knew we were in the right place.

“She’s probably asleep Lucas just go in,” my father stated.

As I slowly open the door, I see a nurse changing the sheets but there wasn’t any sign of my mother, so I decided to address the nurse.

“Excuse me ma’am, do you know where my moth… Mrs. Williams is, the patient that is supposed to be in this room? “

The nurse’s eyes got big and she stopped making the bed to say, “ I assume your name is Lucas right? And who is the man next to you?”

“That is my father.”

Immediately after she said, “I’m sorry to inform you…” I dropped the flowers and stopped listening. She was gone and all my father said was, “Things can only get better from here son,” as we just stood there. He hugged me as we cried together making me wonder what life would be like without her around.