Joey's POV:
I've just finished the dishes and Bethany is in the shower when my phone begins vibrating on the counter next to me. The caller ID reads: "Nicole"
I press talk with shaking fingers. Nicole never calls, something must be up.
When I bring the phone to my ear, I hear sniffling on the other end.
"Nicole?! What's going on?" I start to hear my own voice cracking.
"Joey...i-it's dad..." She says.
Oh no. "Wh-what happened?"
"He had a heart attack, and they don't know if he'll make it." She sniffles.
I drop my phone and it shatters at my feet. No. This can't be happening. It can't happen. Before I know what I'm doing I'm running faster than I've ever run, sprinting out the door and down the stairs, and finally into the parking garage. I dash to my car, punch in the code to unlock it, then locking it behind me when I'm sitting in it. I can't let Bethany see me like this.
But no such luck. After about half an hour of me sobbing in my car I hear footsteps running towards my car. I look up briefly to see Bethany, face filled with concern, sprinting towards me. I desperately try to wipe the tears away from my eyes, but I know that my eyes are still read and puffy and my face is tear stained.
"Joey!" She yells as she opens the car door. I forgot I told her the combination.
No matter what I try I can't stop sniffling. "M-my dad..."
"What happened?" She asks.
"He had a...heart attack..." I sob.
"Oh, Joey, I'm so sorry." She soothes.
"He might not make it!" I nearly shout. I can feel my despair transforming into guilt, anger, and regret.
"But he's not dead yet! He might still live!" She reassures me.
"That's what they always say! And they never do!" I say.
She doesn't respond. She merely pulls me put of my car and locks it behind us, then helps me back to the apartment. When we get back in to the apartment I break myself from her grasp and drag myself to my room where I collapse onto my bed.
I've never felt this kind of sadness before. It feels like someone has ripped a part of my heart out and thrown it away. If my dad does die, how will it affect my family? How did he even have the heart attack? He wasn't even that old!
Soon Bethany sits on the end of my bed with a glass of water. She hands it to me, and I gratefully take it, chugging the whole glass.
When I've drained the cup I set it on the table next to me. Bethany looks like she's going to say something but my phone starts ringing again.
My heart begins to beat twice as fast when I read the caller ID.
The call is from Nicole.
Thanks for reading!
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