Chapter Forty One

"Dad, please open your eyes" I cried while they were carrying him into the ambulance

I couldn't help but think this was my fault. I won't be able to forgive myself if anything happened to my father. He was the only parental figure in my life.

I entered the ambulance with them as they tried to resuscitate my father, and an oxygen mask was placed on his nose.

When we got to the hospital, there was already a stretcher waiting to carry him inside. They placed him on a drip as they carried him to the emergency room. I wanted to follow them inside but the nurses stopped me and said it was out of bounds. My brother held me as I sobbed

"Dad, please don't leave us"

"He's going to be fine, they are attending to him now" my brother tried consoling me

"How sure are you he's going to be fine. This has never happened before"

"The nurses assured me everything was going to be fine"

"This is all my fault, I shouldn't have come back home. If I hadn't come home this wouldn't have happened"

"Don't blame yourself. I'm the one at fault here I should have listened to him when he told me to stop" I rested my head on his chest as he continued patting my back.

"Where is dad?" Francis came to where we sat. He looked cleaned up now apart from his swollen face.

"He's inside. They told us to wait here" I answered him. Gabe didn't turn to look at him. There were tears in Francis's eyes, he was blaming himself too. I was still angry with Francis but we needed each other right now. I would confront him when my father was better.

I was getting scared as time went by, we had been waiting for three hours, and yet there was no news on my father's condition, I was getting reckless. I saw a nurse coming out of the room and we quickly rushed to meet her.

"Nurse, any news on our dad?"

"We have managed to calm him. The doctor is in a better position to update you on his condition" she gave us a reassuring smile "Please, excuse me"

I heaved a sigh of relief. Thank God, at least there was hope. Gabe hugged me. We went back to our seat

Thirty minutes later, the doctor came out with a chart in his hands. We stood up to meet him

"Good afternoon Doctor" we greeted in unison

"Good afternoon"

"How is our dad? What was the cause of his collapse?" I asked

"According to the test we ran on him we found out your father has a weak heart and it has deteriorated. We've managed to calm him but we don't know how long he will last"

"Is he going to die?" Francis asked

"Let's pray for a miracle"

I finally found my voice

"W-what do you mean by that?" I stuttered

"Your father is in a critical condition, we just have to observe him closely"

"Is he awake?" I asked

"Yes, you can see him but make sure not to stress him"

"Thank you doctor"

We entered into his room. There were different tubes connected to his heart and they had removed the oxygen mask. My heart broke into a million pieces seeing my father in this state. He flashed us a weak smile and a single tear rolled down my both eyes. I moved closer to his bed and sat down quietly.

"Dad, why didn't you tell us you had a weak heart?" I asked

"I didn't know it would get this bad. I had been taking my drugs regularly" I sobbed

"My baby girl, I'm sorry for not being a good father to you all this while"

"No dad" I held his hand "You've been more than good to me I couldn't ask for anybody better" he smiled at me

"Gabe and Francis" he called out

"Yes dad" they both answered

"Come closer, I can't see your faces" they moved closer to his bed

"Gabe you should learn how to control your temper whenever you are angry, you almost killed your brother today"

"I'm sorry dad," he said looking down

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. Apologize to Francis" he apologized to Francis and they hugged each other.

"Francis you acted wrongly and you were not remorseful. You made your sister lose her job. You are meant to be protecting your sister but you are the one hurting her"

"I'm sorry dad. I'm sorry Euli"

"Baby girl, please forgive your brother for my sake. Please"

"Okay dad"

"I'm proud of you my girl. If I have not told you before I'm telling you now. I'm proud of the woman you've become and everything you've achieved. I didn't want to believe you've grown up until I found out you started sneaking out to meet some boys" he confessed and my eyes widened in shock. He knew all along

"You knew? Why didn't you confront me"

"I didn't want to force you to tell me. I wanted you to do it on your terms just like when you brought Constantine home. I was happy you finally brought someone you love and he loves you too. He really loves you if you don't know that" I bent my head "You know he came to visit me" I raised my head up

"When? Why didn't you tell me"

"It was meant to be a secret but I have already let it slip. He made me promise not to tell you. He wanted to ask for my blessings to marry you" my eyes widened

"I guess there would be no marriage again and you won't walk me down the aisle," I said sadly

"Of course, there would be a marriage. He promised me he would always take care of you"

"Francis, if you are dating somebody you should bring the person home and introduce her to us. Don't keep her hidden. As for you Gabe, find a decent girl and settle down with her you can't keep frolicking with girls" we burst out laughing

"I love all of you very much"

"We love you too dad. Thank you for always being there" I answered on our behalf

He smiled at us before the heart monitor started flat-lining and beeping.

"Doctor" I rushed to the door and screamed. The doctor and the nurses came running in. My brothers held me as they checked my father

"No.....Dad..... Please" I screamed

The doctor checked his pulse and also used a stethoscope to check him before uttering those words

"Time of death is 5:30" my whole world stopped

I screamed and kept thrashing out of my brothers hold but they held me tight

"He can't be dead. No...... he's just sleeping" I cried

"Sorry for your loss" the doctor gave his condolence

I watched as the nurses covered his body and I fainted.