“Mr. Carter?”

Hearing the doctor call my name, I had raised my old, feeble hand weakly so he knew I was there. I shifted to the right in my bed, now causing me to face the HRM. Apparently, the rate was faster than it was yesterday, which was likely the very thing the doctor wanted to discuss. 

“What do you want, young man?” 

  I braced myself for the news. Not for fear of receiving bad news but due to the simple fact that this man had never seemed to learn brevity. Maybe he watched too many medical shows when he grew up. One time it took him ten minutes to tell me that it was time for my medications. 

“Out with it! Get to the point!”

After I said this, I noticed that the doctor winced up. It seemed that not only did he lack brevity, but he also seemed to be weak-willed. the latter could be the cause of the former, I really had no idea.  

“There's no easy way to explain it, but I'll try to be as brief as possible,” The doctor cleared his throat before beginning his real statement: “There’s no easy way to tell you this sir...” He gulped, showing that this news could possibly be really bad, “You're dying…”

WHAT?! 

“I see...very well. Does my family know that their Patriarch is going to die today?” I was feeling lethargic. I had been for the past week; however, today my lethargy was more potent than usual. When I said this, I couldn't help but notice the doctor's facepalm. He turned to the door that seemed to have some people waiting. 

“Who's there?” I asked as I tried to get up to see what he was looking at. The doctor winced yet again, and I braced myself for yet another session of him beating around the bush. 

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“Your family…” 

I felt the need to lash out at the incompetent, insubordinate, unqualified, useless excuse of a doctor, but then it occurred to me that he was likely just a rookie. 

Perhaps a different approach would get him to be more prompt...

“...Let them in if you would be so kind,” I made sure to add a tinge of grace in my voice, hoping it would spur him on. Turns out, it worked spectacularly, for the doctor welcomed in the members of my family with wide-open arms. Among them stood my eldest son's family, my daughter's family, and my younger son's family. 

“Dad…” My daughter came close to me to attempt to embrace me. I chuckled, not just because of how difficult the task must be, but because of the fact that this scene proves why she was my favorite. My sons were alright, good kids(because I raised them right) but my daughter Maria always had the biggest heart of our family. Fortunately, Michael(my eldest son) managed to get my intelligence while William(my younger son) got my sense of humor. My sons later came to embrace me too, but they wanted to let their sister take as much time as she needed with me. 

I’m really going to miss you three… 

“Everyone, listen up-” I tried to shout, but all that I felt was raspiness in my throat. I began coughing likely as my body's attempts to slow down my own heart rate. In the end, my efforts were futile. I turned to the HRM, the heartbeat was beginning to increase rapidly, getting faster and faster. It was clear that I didn’t have much time left. 

This is the worst. They must think that I'm such a pathetic old coot. I can't even tell my own kids how to manage without me. 

In an unexpected twist, the doctor managed to pull himself together, for he had walked back with a bundle of papers. I never got to know what they meant, for I heard HRM go continue to speed up. It became difficult to breathe, think, or do anything. Before my consciousness faded away, I thought of my wife, who had already passed away, and I smiled. 

At least we’ll be together again...but, I don’t want to die yet...