Page 17 of After All This Time

I’m running back to my mom like a bat out of hell.

Dani hangs back a bit, but enough to overhear the conversation between Dr. Miller and my mom.

Dr. Miller pulls Mom aside.

Celia has her arm around my mom, her thumb rubbing my mom’s shoulder.

“Mrs. Kaplan.” Dr. Miller’s tone is firm and gentle, but her eyes say something entirely different.

“Dr. Miller, how is my husband?” My mom’s voice is frantic and searching for Dr. Miller’s face for a physical response.

“Mrs. Kaplan, I’m so sorry, but your husband didn’t make it.”

This is a fucking nightmare. This isn’t real. This isn’t happening right now.

I see my mom drop to the floor on her knees with her arms covering her face. Her wailing is piercing through my heart.

Celia gets on the floor, hugging my mom tight to comfort her.

Dani’s shoulders are rising and falling, but she’s not making any eye contact with me.

She’s numb.

Just like I am.

“I wish there was more we could do,” Dr. Miller says before she leaves us.

I shrug my shoulders, shaking my head. “What the hell is she talking about? What is she apologizing for?”

“Ah, the denial phase is setting in,” Dani says to herself out loud.

“Oh, shut up, Dani,” I reply.

“I’m not trying to be a bitch. I’m being serious.”

Celia cuts our tizzy short. “It’s your dad, Noah. H-he’s gone.”

My jaw trembles before I start laughing. “You’re lying.” I point my finger at her, my hand shaking and slightly realizing Dani’s right.

I am in denial.

I try to put my left hand on the wrist of my right hand to stop it from shaking.

Why can’t I stop it from shaking?

I attempt to find one of the plastic chairs in front of the wall and just barely make it. I look around my surroundings.

The room is spinning.

I can’t breathe or move.

Fuck, it’s happening again.

“Hey, look at me.” Dani pulls one of the plastic chairs and places it in front of me. She sits down and delicately places both of her hands on my thighs. “Noah. Look at me.”

I take my time, but I look at her.

“I’m not going to sugarcoat this all for you. I’m going to be brutally honest with you, which shouldn’t surprise you. The next several months are going to be challenging as hell. But you’re going to get through them. You’re going to get through this. I know everybody says this. Everybody said this to me when my father passed away.” She takes a deep breath in and out. “I know we fight a lot. I—I just want you to know how much I admire your strength. You never back down from a challenge. And you always persevere no matter how difficult things get. You’ll get through this.”

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