114 Ginger
114
Ginger
He picked up on the third ring. I heard his breathing.
“Rhys, I’m so sorry,” I whispered.
“I should have come earlier.”
“Don’t say that. We talked about this. The important thing now is you being there with him. It could have been worse. You could still be in Ibiza, directionless…”
“I just came here to see him die.”
“I know it’s hard, Rhys…”
“Every five minutes, I get this urge to turn and run, and I suppress it and make myself stay there with him while he’s suffering in his room, and we call the nurse to get him more painkillers. But the impulse is still there, even if I can’t give in. He told me something. That I needed to stay strong when this happened and take care of my mother. I don’t know.”
“You’re doing it. You’re doing a good job.”
“If only it wasn’t so difficult.”
“Did they tell you anything else?”
“Just that he doesn’t have much time left.”
“I’m so sorry… Call me whenever you need to, okay? It doesn’t matter what time. If you ever feel like you need a break, I’m here.”
“Thanks, Ginger,” he whispered.