Page 13 of Frayed Bonds

“Okay, Terminator.” I mock sarcastically at my papá’s cyborg jokes. He’s been making the same joke, about how he’s practically a robot now that he’s got a titanium hip, for the last week straight.

We both laugh and he starts sitting up on the bed, getting ready to head home. The surgery went well, and after a week of observation, the doctor called to say he was ready to come home.

“Miss Farina, I need you to sign a few discharge papers for me,” the doctor calls from the door and I nod.

“I'll be right back, Papá,” I say, and he brushes me off.

I follow the doctor to the front desk and he hands me a clipboard with the forms.

“They’re mainly just going over payment and the recovery process,” he says and I smile, looking for the places to be signed.

“Miss Farina—”

“Please, call me Valerie.” I cut him off, and he nods politely.

“Valerie,” he starts again, his large veiny hands grabbing onto my father’s file. “I want to reiterate that this has been a major surgery, and he has a long recovery ahead of him. His first hip has to heal sufficiently enough for us to even consider his second operation, which means he’ll need numerous hours of physical therapy a week.”

“I'm aware, Dr. Rossi.” I smile politely, even though my heart is sinking into my stomach with each word he says. The idea of the pain my father is going to be experiencing has tears settling in my eyes at the thought.

“I’m not going to sugarcoat this. It’s going to be a very expensive few months, Valerie. I've seen medical coverage give out mid-way. So, I suggest you double-check exactly what is covered by your father’s medical plan before we proceed any further,” he says. He’s leaning against the counter, rubbing his hands together, a similar nervous habit that I’ve seen Antonio have.

“What are you trying to say, Dr. Rossi?” I suspect there may be more than what he’s letting on.

“Your father’s specific cover has been known to only partially cover certain medical expenses.” He frowns.

I fake a smile. “Don't worry about it Dr. Rossi, we’ll take care of all the payments. Please just make sure he gets all the care and treatment he needs to get the second surgery and finally be pain-free.”

He nods and I can sense his apprehensiveness, but nothing is more noticeable to me than the sickly feeling of wondering if what he’s saying is true.

I hand the papers back to him, fully signed and initialled. “You can send his physio schedule to me, as well as any bills. I don't want him to have to worry about any of that while he’s in recovery.” I smile, and again the doctor nods.

Under different circumstances, I would have probably found him rather attractive. He's tall, and burly, but not overly muscular, just enough to show off the fact that he works out regularly. He has short blonde hair that's faded close to his scalp and brown eyes that look like pools of warm coffee. But I can’t let my mind travel down that road right now.

“Will do, Valerie,” he says, snapping me out of my observations.

Karyn and I manage to successfully get my father in the car, and into the downstairs bedroom at home.

“Get some rest, Papá.” I smile as both Karyn and I head out seeing how tired he is. He is worn from the surgery and what I assume to be the stress of it all.

My head feels thick as I slump onto the couch with my laptop next to me. Dr. Rossi’s words plague my head and I run my fingers through my hair, tugging at it gently.

I went from being carefree and reckless, to mature and dependable, in a matter of days and the change feels like whiplash. It feels as if my mind is running wild with thoughts, worries, and all sorts of plans that all need to somehow come together very soon.

The stress has put a major hindrance on any creative energy, leaving me unable to sketch for the last few days. The only remotely creative thing I've been able to do was to start organising my studio and set everything up for when I'm ready to take on a few commissions again.

“When was the last time you left the house?” Karyn asks as she steps into the living room.

I roll my eyes and stare at her as if the answer isn’t blatantly clear, considering she was with me at the hospital this morning.

“Besides the hospital, Val.” She folds her arms across her chest and I see a vision of her mom. Our mothers being sisters meant Karyn and I just about grew up as siblings and have always been inseparable. Even after I left for Paris, we stayed in touch, both she and I constantly visiting each other whenever we had the chance. She was the only one Mattheo willingly let me see, now that I think about it.

“The funeral with Antonio,” I sigh.

“That’s depressing, Val. Get out, please. At least for a few hours while he’s asleep.” She all but begs

“Fine, I'll go get breakfast and work from Giovanni's for a bit,” I say as if that was the worst possible thing I could do in the world. In reality, it is my absolute favourite thing to do whenever I'm in Tevici.

“I’m sorry, I know I should’ve called sooner, it’s been a bit hectic since I got home,” I speak into my phone while comparing prices of a few cheeses.

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