CHAOS

Chapter 21

"I'm here Anna, always."

Anna POV

I pushed the heavy doors open to the chapel; Though, I didn't know if it was the doors that were weighing a ton, or that I was drained to push them fully open.

Either way, I scanned the room and saw people periodically sitting in the benches until I spotted Darren.

My father being in the hospital, and not knowing what was happening was out of my hands. On the other hand, Darren and I's relationship was still in my grasp.

If I couldn't do anything about my Papa, then I'll do something about the only man in my life that I genuinely cared about and loved. I walked up and stood behind him, putting my hands on his shoulder to get his attention.

"Hey."

"Hey"

"Praying to the big guy?" I asked while looking at the brown cross that had a particular glow to it from the candles that surrounded the base of it.

"Yeah, I am." He sat, looking up with hope in his eyes.

I decided to come around, occupying the seat next to him. "I'm not going to say sorry-"

"You don't have to Anna; I get it. You're going through a lot." He turned his whole body towards me.

"I know you get it, and that's more of a reason I have to apologize. You get me, and what I'm going through that you will support me anyway that you can. Even if it's encouraging words that I probably think are pointless and that I don't want to hear right now." I chuckled a little trying to make light of the situation.

The stretches of my mouth, indicating a smile was going to come through didn't fully make it on my face because I quickly felt liquid running from my pupils. Instead, I was crying.

"So I'm sorry-"

"Babe, no no, don't worry about how I feel right now. At this moment it's  about your dad and his condition, that's all."

He caressed my blotchy cheeks while tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. I nodded my head but looked up anyway to the cross. I closed my eyes and silently sent a prayer up to God.

'Please, God, save my Papa. I pray that everything will go back to being normal before cancer took over his body.'

I opened my eyes slowly and sat there for a minute, while Darren held my hand tightly. For a second, his touch gave me some comfort, and we were in our own bubble. Soon, those minutes were up, and the reality of time popped the bubble.

"I think we should get back," I said, standing up.

"Yeah, let's go."

He also stood following after me before I could fully walk out of the chapel — the only safe place in the hospital. I turned around and spoke to Darren.

"Darren, if my Dad doesn't make it-"

"He will, Anna; you just have to have faith."

"Just stop talking and listen," I said harshly.

He didn't say anything but closed his mouth and did exactly that.

"If he doesn't make it, I will not be the same, person for a while, and I need you to be aware of that."

"Anna, I will."

"No I'm serious Darren, I will change someway and somehow, and I need you to be prepared for that. If you're not, then tell me now so that I will know." I looked in his eyes with assertiveness and a little bit of nervousness.