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SUSAN'S POV

I came back to my town soon after hearing about my father's health. I didn't think I would ever come back to my hometown under these circumstances. But here I am. . . For my Dad! Time to go meet the family.

Before I could even know, my mother held the door open wide, stepping forward. I can't help but smile at her. She envelopes me in a tight hug, and I breathe in the comfort of being safe and loved.

"Welcome home sweetie!" Mum says.

"I missed you so much!" I spoke.

"You have lost weight honey." She remarks, as she examined me.

"Stop, Mum!" I laugh and she chuckles before tugging my arm and guiding me inside the house.

While I was coming here, I had to say goodbye to someone very dear to me– my close friend– Michael or Mike, as I call him. He has known me for the last three years since I moved to New York. He knew I was leaving to go back home.

*Flashback*

My face fell as a slight disappointment and surprise made its way up to my face, and Mike noticed it before witting a snarky comment.

"Please, by all means, don't look that excited." He remarked.

"I didn't mean to. . . I am so sorry!" I apologized and looked his way sheepishly, and he smirked before raising a questioning brow.

"I thought it was the package I ordered." I explained.

"Obviously. . . It's something better, ME!" He smirked.

I giggled before I answered, "Yeah!," With a smile.

"By the way, what package are you waiting for Susan?" He asked.

I stepped aside while making way for Mike to come inside, and he flashed me a grateful smile.

"I ordered something for Mum and Dad." I explained to him.

"Ah!" He nodded his head in understanding before placing himself on the couch, making himself comfortable.

"So you can take them with you while you leave?" Was his next question.

"Exactly! I only have one day, so I hope it comes soon." I replied.

"It will arrive on time, don't worry." He reassured me. "But, if the package doesn't arrive in the morning, I can always bring it to you." He suggested.

"I already gave them your number in case." I said.

"Hmm. . . Anyway, all good to go?" He asked with a hint of sadness in his voice.

I only nodded my head in response, as I didn't know what to make of the hurt and sadness in his tone.

He looked up to my face with a sad smile and exhaled loudly.

"Sit with me, please?" He requested. 

I walked towards the couch closing the distance, and sat next to Mike.

"I don't want to sound like a selfish person, but I wish you weren't moving away, you know!"

"I know!"

"You're like my family, and now you're leaving me too!" He said sounding dejected.

I know he doesn't talk about his family, but he misses them too much sometimes.

"I- I cannot. . ."

"Nah! I understand, your family needs you, and it's about time you go and start living with them. I am sure they must have missed you a lot." He said.

Mike always knew his way around words and I stared at him in awe with a bit of sadness in my eyes, as I realized I also didn't know when would be the next time I would see him again.

"They do!" Was all I could reply back to him.

"Hmm. I am really going to miss you, Man!" He exclaimed, "I wish you didn't have to go." He added.

"You know why I do."

"Yeah. I don't like change, I don't cope very well with it." He added with a small laugh.

"You will Mike." I encouraged.

"I am just one call away, don't forget that." He said.

"I won't." I responded.

—Half hour later—

"Time to go." Mike said with a grunt as he stood up from the couch.

"Thanks for coming." I smiled.

"I could not miss a chance of seeing your pretty face one last time." His comment threw me off guard, and I felt myself get a little flustered.

"Uh! Not the last time." I stammered.

"I hope not either."

"You can visit me anytime you want." I suggested.

"I might just take you up on your offer someday, Miss." He smiled.

"Sure."

*Flashback ends*

Before leaving, Mike made sure to convey his emotion by engulfing me in a long hug, a feeling of warmth and safety radiating from him. Needless to say, I will miss my life here and most of all, Mike. He has always been there for me and I can't help but feel blessed by having such a close confidant in my life.

—————————

I am sitting in my parents bedroom with my father, and he visibly looks happy and relaxed now that I'm home.

"I'm glad you came."

"How could I not? Last year when you visited New York, you made me promise to come back." I state.

"And here you are." He smiles weakly.

"Yes!" I reply with a strained voice. I have never seen him this weak ever.

"I wish I was feeling any better so we could enjoy some time outside this house." He says wistfully.

I gently took my father's hand in my own. "We will, just get better." I say. My dad's face etched into a small smile.

"If you say, we can move you to any facility dad, PLEASE!" I cried.

"Kiddo, I am okay. I don't want to go to any hospital, you know how much I hate—" he starts.

"Yes, yes! I know you don't like hospitals, but you also need to get better," I pause for a minute. "Mum has been worried sick these past few days and—" I stop then sigh.

"The doctor is anyway coming home for check-up, no?" I ask.

"Yes, but it's still not enough." He says dejectedly.

"You really should consider moving there, listen to the doctor." I suggest.

"I feel better here." He says.

I can't give him too much stress.

"Okay, I will not force you to go to the hospital for now." I say.

"I hear your mum is making lasagna?" He asks after a minute. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sudden change of topic by my dad.

"Yes, your favorite!" I exclaim happily.

"Absolutely!" He exclaimed happily. I only wish for him to get better somehow.

"I can't wait for dinner." 

"Me neither." He adds with a laugh.

After quite some time, I genuinely enjoyed not having to eat dinner alone, and then we three sat together to casually chit chat about what was going on in my life. 

Later dad excuses himself to rest and leaves early for bed.

"Mum?" I call out.

"Yes, honey?" She answers.

"Are you ok?" I inquire, head tilted to the left a little.

"I am ok. I am just worried about your stubborn father." She says with a slight shake of her head. "Believe me when I say this, I haven't been able to change this man one bit in the last thirty years." She states.

"And you are the one who always says we should not love someone by changing them." I say reminding her. "Besides, you know how he is about hospitals and everything." I explain.

"I know, me too!" She sighs. "Doctors say his HEART is getting weak day by day and they want to admit him in the hospital for proper care." She explains.

"I talked to him about it." I tell her. "You know he can be so stubborn at times." I reply agreeing with her former statement.

"I know. He doesn't listen to me either." She complains, the worry noticeable in her voice.

"I will ask him again tomorrow, don't worry." I reply then embrace mum in a tight hug. And after a few seconds, she visibly relaxed.

"You can't be careless about your health while looking after him, okay?" I chastise, "I am here now!" I add.

"If you fail to convince him, I know just the person to ask." She says with a serious look on her face.

I raise my brows at her in question and my mum shrugs her shoulders.

"I am confused," I say as my lip forms a frown and my brows knit together. "Who are you talking about?" I question.

"Don't you know?" She raises a brow in question.

"I really don't know." I reply truthfully.

"I'm talking about Conner, honey!" She acknowledged.

"Conner?" I say in surprise.

I never thought his name would sound so foreign rolling off my tongue.