"Dad." The young man breathed. There was so much he wanted to say. So much he wanted to do for his father. "I'm sorry." He felt the tears gather in his eyes and roll down his cheeks.
"Why?" His father asked as he gathered his only child in his arms.
"I don't want to leave you alone. I don't want to put you through this." The boy sobbed, clinging as tightly as he could to the man that had raised him.
"Shhh...this isn't your fault. It's just something that happens. It's not fair; it's not just, but that's the way life goes. I won't be alone. You and your mother will watch over me."
"I'm scared."
"I know. It'll be all right." His father soothed. He hoped it would be. He had just checked with the doctor. The doctor confirmed what they already knew. It would not be very long now. He just prayed it would be peaceful for his son.
He watched as his son closed his eyes. The heart monitor gave a steady stroke, and he felt comforted by that. Warren brushed a stray lock of sandy blond hair away from his son's face, and smiled sadly. He wished his son did not have to go through this. *The first time he's honest with himself and opens himself up, and this is how he's repaid.*
"I wanted you to know what it was like to love with your whole heart and soul, and be loved in return. Instead, you were saddled with this. I'm sorry, son. I just wanted you to be happy. I wanted you to be someone special. I wanted people to look at you and see the caring heart you had underneath, the loving soul that your mother and I got to see day in and day out.
"I understand why you don't want your friends here. Even when nobody would begrudge you a bit of selfishness you are still protecting your friends. I'm proud of you, Billy."
"I love you too, Billy. I love you too."
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