Snap Back to Reality || Self-Para (feat. Family Members)
Four years. Itād been four years since he had seen the door that he stood in front of, only a duffel bag hanging off of his shoulder to suffice him his visit.Ā Donald heaved a heavy sigh as he stood on the stairs leading up to the entrance of his familyās home. The drive from Barden back to Athens, while not lengthy, gave him too much time to think. He thought about the way his father so easily, so ruthlessly disregarded his son for simply the idea that he would do something with his life other than law, medicine, or business. He thought about how, in four years, his father went from the picture of health to knockingāno,Ā batteringĀ down deathās door. And then, he thought about Em. He thought about the girl who constantly threw him for a loop, kept him on his toes, and never failed to surprise him. And all at once, he felt worse than he ever had.
Donald knocked twice, then rang the doorbell. He tapped his foot until the door creaked back, revealing his older sister, standing there with a sad smile on her face. He returned her smile with one of her own, āUhā¦ Merry Christmas.ā
Kira practically leapt forward, wrapping her arms around her younger brother. āI missed you,ā she said, the words muffled into his shoulder, āI missed you so much.ā Donald relaxed into her hug, the strangely familiar warmth covering him from head to toe. She pulled back, tears in her eyes and sighed. āEveryoneās here,ā Kira stepped into the house, Donald following behind closely. āDaddyāll be so happy to see you, Donnie.ā
"Happy?" He looked around as he walked through the houseāhis house, the one that he grew up inādecorated all for Christmas. It felt surreal, like he wasnāt really where he needed to be. Well, he wasnāt, if he were being honest; he needed to be with Em. But he also needed to be there, at home, with his family. The dull roar of voices he heard at the doorway grew to a steady quake. āIs everyoneā¦ here?ā Donald gripped onto the strap of his bag uncomfortably.
"Yeah," Kira could only offer him a half-smile, consoling him in advance for the inevitable slew of questions heād have to endure in a moment. The two of them walked into the living room (had it always been that big?), the Christmas tree fully decorated, and almost all of his cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles sat around, enjoying each othersā company. Kira cleared her throat and just about every head snapped up in their direction. "He really came," his aunt smiled tearfully, leading to slews of hugs, kisses, and handshakes.
He talked with his family members for a while, falling right back into place as uncle and meeting Kiraās daughter for the first time. Donald got questions about school, work, girls (āThereās one,ā heād told his aunt, unable to mask the smile on his face), and he answered them all with ease.
He walked through the house, memories flashing through his mind with every step. He came to his childhood bedroom, his posters still lining the walls and the room looking eerily untouched for a near five year absence. Donald pulled his bag over his head and sat at the foot of his bed. He contemplated calling Em, then figured she was already upset enough with him, no point in beating a dead horse. Kira came in a few minutes later, leaning against the doorframe. āWhat happened? To Dad,ā Donald sighed, looking up at his sister.
Kira shifted her weight awkwardly, like she still didnāt know how to discuss it. āHeā¦ he had a stroke a few months after you left. And then another one. Andāā she cleared her throat, āAnd another. I think heās had five in the last four years. And the last two, Donnie. We were so scared. He canāt walk anymore, and he lost his long-term memory. And then theā¦ the cancer. They canāt do anything about it.ā
"He doesnāt remember kicking you out," she nodded, her voice apologetic. "Heās wanted to see you for so long, Donnie."
It took Donald a moment to wrap his head around the situation, but he finally did. He stood up, rubbing the back of his neck. āWhere is he?ā Kira pointed down the hall to their parentsā room. The walk seemed much longer than ever, even longer than the first time he had to go in there to tell them heād wet the bed. He inhaled deeply, then knocked on the door twice and pushed on the doorknob slowly.
"Oh, Donald," his mother released a happy sigh of relief, wrapping him in the same hug Kira had greeted him with. She took his face in her hands the way she used to when he was a little kid. "Are you alright? Have you been alright?" He nodded, his eyes closed and basking in the familiarity of the room, of his mother. "Indra," she said to his father after a moment, "Donaldās come to see you."
"Hey, Pops," Donald smiled, pulling up a seat next to the bed where his father lay. "Been a while, huh?"
"Donald! My boy, where have you been? Itās been so quiet here; itās just Kira and the baby now, you know. And your mother and I. I havenāt seen any report cards, boy, you better not be hiding them." His mother gestured towards the door before leaving the two men alone.
"No, Dad, Iāmā¦ Iām in college now, remember? We donāt get report cards anymore." He couldnāt believe it was his father he was looking at. This was a shell of the man whose laugh could fill each and every room in the house, whose steps on the third floor could be heard in the basement. This wasnāt his father. "Kira told me you wanted to see me, so I came home for Christmas."
"Oh." The man furrowed his brow, then unconvincingly continued, "Yes, right, of course. A fine doctor my son will be, yes?" Donald could do nothing but nod, not wanting to ruin their first conversation in four years. "Good. And of course I wanted you home, son. Youāre my boy. Even after I am long gone, you will always be my boy." Donald covered his face with his hands and hoped his father hadnāt seen the tears start to fall. "Do you have a beautiful girlfriend, son?"
He laughed, wiping his face and underneath his glasses. āYeah, sheās gorgeous. Youāll have to meet her, Dad.ā
"Have you told her you love her?" He paused, his mouth falling open just the slightest bit with no sound coming out. "I may be coming to my timeās end, but I know a boy in love. You tell her you love her when you see her next, yes?"
Donald nodded, having yet to admit to himself he does, in fact, love Em. They spoke a bit longer, going over all of their favorite conversation topics before his father stopped and sighed. āSon, listen to me,ā he began, and Donald leaned in closer, āDo not act the way I have towards you, to your son. Or to your daughter. I regret the rift I caused between you and I, and now look at me.ā He brought a shaky, almost emaciated hand up and rested it on Donaldās shoulder. āYou are my boy,ā he repeated, āAnd a fine one to be mine at that.ā
Donald leaned further and hugged his father tightly, knowing fully that this was the last hug they would share. āIāll see you soon, Pops,ā he smiled tearfully as his stood up, āRight? Iāll be back soon.ā
"With that beautiful girlfriend of yours for me to meet, yes?" Donald nodded and pressed a kiss to his fatherās forehead. "You make me proud, Donald. Donāt ever forget that."
"I wonāt," Donald replied as he left the room, leaving the door open for his mother. "Iām going back to school," he sighed, "I canāt be here. Not right now." His mother nodded, hugging him again, crying into his shoulder as he hugged her back. "Iāll be back," he whispered just loud enough for her to hear, "I promise."
He went around, grabbing his bag and saying goodbye to his older sisters and other family members. Kira followed him to the door, her daughter sleeping in her arms. āPlease donāt go,ā she sighed. āI need you.ā
"Iām gonna come back. I justā" He shook his head, overwhelmed. "I canāt be here, okay? Take care of Mom for me. Iāll be back, cross my heart." They smiled at each other, memories of crossing their hearts for promises coming back. He pulled her in for a hug, then went to his car. He glanced back to the house for a moment, waving at Kira, then drove off.
