Confessions
of a Teenage
Perfectionist
Confession Number
Fourteen: Hospitals smell
safe
An overtired nurse with a messy
bun pinned to the back of her head escorts me to his
room.
I feel a sharp intake of breath as I see all of the IV's and
machines whirring around him and his sleepy figure.
"Daddy?" I ask tentatively.
He sees me, and then struggles to sit up. Disbelieving, he
comments, "Colyssa, baby, is that you?"
I nod slowly, watching his face of horror as he takes me in. I
cherish the fact that it's the first time I remember him
saying my name.
I don't respond, and stand there as he looks at me, tears
clouding his eyes. I notice for the first time how beautiful and
blue they were, without being dilated and bloodshot.
He reaches out a hand to me, and I clasp it in my own without
thinking, being careful of the IV.
"You look just like your momma. how...how old are you?"
he asks, sadly realizing he doesn't know.
"I know daddy. I'm sixteen, almost seventeen."
He shakes his head as best he can with the neck brace.
"It's been nine years. Nine. I can't believe
this."
"What?" I ask, wanting him to smile so badly.
"I don't know my own daughter. Do you still
sing?"
I'm shocked at his question. I sang? I don't remember
singing, not ever. My mind struggles to place this memory.
"Well we can start now."
He smiles, and I take it all in. The way the sunburned skin
around his eyes crinkles, his unkempt beard crinkles, and his
white teeth shine on through. A smile recognize.
A memory floods back with that smile. One of my mother wearing a
black apron splattered with paint, dancing around her studio to a
cheesy pop song waving a paintbrush in the air. Dad leans against
the wall, watching and smiling. I run out from under the easel
and join her, screaming along to the words and dancing like a
maniac. He rushed in to pick me up and lifted me high towards the
ceiling. "Daddy's little rockstar, huh Colly?"
he'd asked me, smiling.
I sit down in a padded armchair, still clutching his hand, wiping
tears from my eyes.
"We've got sixteen years to recap, better get
started." He says.
***
Eleven hours later, after talking so much my voice is lost, I am
told visiting hours are over and I need to leave. I kiss him on
the cheek and make my out of the hospital wing. A doctor stops
me, and I recognize him as Mr.Kohler, my father's doctor.
"You're Ms.VanPulson, am I right?"
I nod, folding my arms.
"I'm sorry about your father's current condition,
we're doing everything we can to help him achieve a full
recovery. He should be better in the next few weeks. If I'm
correct, he is your only guardian, so it's my responsibility
to ask you to find a place to stay while your father gets better?
We don't want you home alone for such a long
time."
"I'm prefectly fine taking care of myself, but thank
you." I tell him. And before he can respond, I leave the
hospital and head on home, school is long over.
I can't stop smiling. My Daddy's back, and he wants to
know me, the real me. I've never done so much talking in my
entire life. He doesn't have much to say about himself, the
past nine years are all but a blur to his drunken memory, but he
promises as soon as he gets out we're going to find him help.
It's going to be a long few weeks.
Authors Note: as you
can probably tell...I've kind of accidentally stopped
notifications. I honestly don't have time and I'm so so
sorry :( I hope you guys still read it, it's all for you, my
amazing readers that I love so very much :) I hope you like
everything so far, sorry it was kind of a boring
chapter.
SweetHauntingMemories · 1 decade ago
0
reply
okay. i'm back and reading again, i got really distracted sorry.
you're such a good writer! (: