Chapter 111 Seeking Forgiveness

Chapter 111 Seeking Forgiveness
“Alyssa?” Vince’s eyes went wide as he grabbed my shoulders. 

“What happened?”

“Take me to the hospital,” I choked out, throwing the duvet off my legs, my hands trembling as I tried to stand. 

“Vince, take me to him right now!”

I didn't care about my numb feet, my tangled hair, or the coat Vince had forced onto my shoulders to stop me from collapsing from the cold.

I sprinted past the nurses' station–completely ignoring the burning weakness–and threw open the doors to the ICU.

My father lay on the metal bed, hooked up to dozens of beeping monitors.

His usually immaculate hair matted with dried blood, his face pale and unrecognizable.

“Papa…” I gasped, stumbling to the side of the bed and grabbing his cold, bruised hand. 

“Papa, I’m here.”

His heavy eyelids fluttered open slowly. They were unfocused. The cold, prideful man from hours ago was entirely gone. 

All that remained was a dying, fragile old man looking at me with eyes full of absolute regret.

“Alyssa…” he breathed out, his breath rattling in his chest. 

“You… you came.”

“Of course I came!” I sobbed, tears instantly blinding my vision as I squeezed his weak fingers. 

“Why were you out in that storm?! Why didn’t you look where you were going?!”

“I was… an idiot,” he whispered, a tear slipping down his bloodstained temple. 

“I walked out of that hotel and… I thought about everything you said. I was… indeed a terrible father to you, Alyssa… A monster.”

“Don’t say that right now!” I shrieked softly, pressing his hand against my cheek. 

“Don’t do this!”

“I am so sorry,” he choked out, his fingers weakly trying to wipe a tear from my face but failed.

“For Ken… for Vince… for pushing you away when you needed a home. I failed you, my sweet girl. I failed you so completely.”

“Stop it! Just shut up and fight!” I cried, my heart breaking into endless pieces. 

“I want to stay angry at you! I want to hate you for what you did! Stay alive so I can hate you more!”

A faint, heartbreaking smile touched his pale lips. 

“Do it when I’m gone.”

“I don’t want to then!” I screamed through my tears, dropping my forehead onto the edge of his bed. 

“I don’t want to hate a memory! Please… Papa… please stay.”

“I am so sorry, Alyssa,” he repeated, his voice becoming a fragile, fading whisper that hurt me 

“I will only forgive you if you make it out of here alive!” I sobbed, looking up at him desperately. 

“Do you hear me?! That’s the condition!”

My father let out a weak laugh, tears running straight without any intention of halting.

The regret I so badly wanted to see on his face was not as satisfactory as I imagined it to be.

“Always so stubborn with me…” He tried to laugh but couldn’t.

“So are you,” I choked out, forcing a smile. 

Slowly, with every remaining ounce of strength in his body, he lifted my trembling hand to his cold lips and kissed my knuckles.

“Forgive me, my daughter…” he whispered.

His sight began to blur as his head turned slightly toward the doorway.

Vince was standing there, silent, stone-faced, watching the entire scene.

My father’s fading gaze locked onto Vince.

“Please…” my father gasped out, his chest hitching one last time. 

“Take care of her…”

Vince stepped forward, giving him a curt nod, his voice ringing low and resolute in the quiet room.

“I will.”

My father squeezed my hand one last time, a breath escaping his lips in a long, quiet sigh.

BEEP—

The monitor was flatlined. 

His hand went completely limp in mine.

“Papa?” I whispered, staring at his motionless face. 

“Papa, stop playing. Wake up.”

No answer.

“PAPA!” I shrieked, collapsing over his chest, wrapping my arms around his lifeless body.

A deafening, soul-shattering sob echoed in the room. 

“No! No, please! Don’t leave me! Papa!”

Strong arms instantly enveloped me from behind. Vince pulled my thrashing, heartbroken frame into his chest, holding me with iron strength.

I buried my face in his neck, screaming and weeping for the father I had lost the very moment I finally got him back.

“Papa! No, wake up! Please!” I shrieked.

Foolishly pulling at his lifeless hand, trying to drag warmth back into his skin. 

“You can't leave me like this! Papa!”

Before I could collapse onto the bed, two strong arms locked securely around my waist, forcibly pulling me back.

"Alyssa, stop," Vince whispered as he held me pinned against his chest. 

“Let him go. Let the doctors in.”

"No! Release me! Papa!" I thrashed mindlessly in his grip. 

“I didn't get to forgive him! I didn't mean it, Vince! Tell him to open his eyes!”

I hated myself for even crying for the man who neglected me all his life.

But, under the weight of the grief, I lost myself.

“I know. I know,” Vince whispered repeatedly, shifting his hold to wrap both arms completely around my chest, locking my trembling form to him. 

“Shh... I've got you. I'm right here.”

“Vince…!” I couldn't breathe. 

The agony surfacing through my core was too much to bear. 

I buried my face straight into the fabric of his coat, muffling my desperate screams into his chest. 

My fists clutched blindly at his shoulders, clutching the fabric until my knuckles turned white.

“Why does everyone leave me?!” My voice was muffled and broken against his heart. 

“Why does everyone die or lie to me?!”

Vince rested his chin heavily on top of my head, his large hand cupping the back of my neck, holding me close.

“I am not going anywhere,” he whispered fiercely.

His grip tightening as my body began to heave with uncontrollable sobs. 

“I am right here, Alyssa. Cry it all out. Just let it go.”

“I hate this... I hate everything…” I breathed out, my voice fragile and barely audible at this point.

“I know, I know you do.” he soothed, his thumb softly stroking my hair. 

“But, for now. Just breathe for me. Close your eyes.”

The sheer exhaustion from the fever, combined with the crushing grief, rapidly drained the remaining strength from my limbs. 

My fists slowly uncurled, sliding down his coat.

“Vince…”

“I'm here, I promise you I will always be here.” he answered softly, his arms taking on my full weight as my knees completely buckled. 

“I've got you, Alyssa. Like always.” 

The beat of his heart beneath my ear was the last thing I heard before my vision blurred, the room tilted.

Soon, I dropped into total, merciful darkness right in his arms.