CHAPTER 29
The machine beeped steadily, constantly. It was the sound Garth had endured for the past three months. He hated that sound more than he hated the daily needles they had been sticking into him. He had told his children to let him spend his final moments at his beach home, on the same bed as Joanne had, but none of them, especially Sky, was ready to lose him yet. They had done everything they could to keep him alive a while longer. It made Garth happy to know that his children loved him so much, but he had grown tired. Since Joanne passed away, all Garth wanted was to move on too.
The only thing that annoyed Garth more than the constant beeping was the inescapable smell of drugs. He would read a paper, force himself to sleep, even watch the television just to get his mind away from the smell. Even so, it always came back, and it always made him feel sick.
Garth felt lightheaded as the nurse gently felt his arm. She checked each of his eyes, then scribbled something into her notebook. She gave Tyler a nod as she walked out of the room. Sky approached the bed and held Garth’s hand as she sat beside him. Clayton and Tyler came up behind her.
“Dad,” Sky said. “Everyone is here.”
Garth looked past his children and saw their wives, husbands, his grandchildren, and their children, all of them standing around the room, wearing sad expressions. Garth looked at his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and smiled. They weren’t kids anymore, and he could see in their eyes that they knew the truth.
“Dad,” Tyler said. “Why did you ask for everyone to be here?”
Garth smiled. “Son, you know why. My time has come,” he said, weakly.
“Don’t say that, Dad,” Clayton pleaded.
“Why not?” asked Garth. “I’ve lived a long life, a good life, and I’m so proud to see all of you here.” He coughed. “Seeing what you’ve all become, and what you can become. It doesn’t get any better than this, son.”
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Clayton lowered his head, trying to hide his tears.
Garth pushed himself up until he was sitting. He pulled out the prongs from his nose, then disconnected the tubes from his forearm.
“Dad, what are you doing?” Sky queried.
“None of it matters now, Sky. I want to say goodbye to my family without tubes sticking into me. Bring them to me.”
Sky looked at Tyler and Clayton, then sighed and squeezed Garth’s shoulder tenderly. One by one, each member of Garth’s family approached him and kissed his old wrinkled cheek. From among them, Joanne walked toward Garth. She looked younger than the last time he saw her. Garth smiled. She reached out to him. He chuckled as he took her hand and relaxed back on the bed. Joanne sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Promise you’ll remember me,” Joanne said.
Garth smiled. “I’ll always remember you, my love.”
Garth looked at his family. Everyone was crying. He wanted to cry with them; he hated that he was going to leave them behind. He had cried so much in his other lives that he had no more tears to give. All he could do was smile.
“Don’t cry for me,” he said. “I won’t be gone for long.”
Garth held out his hand out to Tyler and Clayton. Clayton sat beside him. Tyler took Garth’s hand.
“Any moment now,” Garth whispered.
Tyler stood and walked to the others. He whispered in the ear of Sky’s husband, Donald. Donald nodded, then turned and ushered everyone out until only Tyler, Clayton, Sky, and Garth remained in the room. The three siblings sat around their father, tears trailing down their cheeks.
“My time has come,” Garth repeated. “I need you to be strong, for me, for your mother, and your families. I may not be the best father, but know that your mother and I tried our best for you three, and the families you’ve built. We’re proud of you. We’re proud of all of you.”
Garth looked to his side and smiled at Joanne. He stared at her for a moment, then nodded with a smile. Joanne slowly faded away like smoke. Garth watched until the last traces of spectral light had vanished. He turned to his children and took one last look at them, then closed his eyes and took one last, long breath. His body stiffened, and an eerie cold spread from his heart to his hands and finally to his head.
Garth’s passing had long been expected but none of his children could bear it. Sky held on to Garth’s hand. She pressed it to her chest and called his name as tears streamed from her eyes. Clayton and Tyler both stood frozen, with trembling lips and pounding hearts, knowing they would never hear their father’s voice again.
There was a flash of light, a whir, a bang, then a whoosh. Garth’s eyes opened but he was no longer on the hospital bed. The smell of sulfur hit him, and he knew exactly where he was and what had happened. Garth looked around. He shook his head and sighed.