Chapter 1

Narrator- 

The tick of the clock hands bounced off the wall of the kindergarten classroom, housing fifteen children, and their two teachers. Crayons colored beyond the lines of their drawing, giggles erupted all over the classroom, as the children completed their final tasks of the day. Cara smiled and lifted her eyes from the folders she was organizing to look out onto the innocent children who found the simplest reasons to smile in this world. Her eyes flashed to the ticking clock and she soon started the mental countdown which led to the ringing of the release bell. Upon hearing the bell, the children cheered and dropped their coloring crayons. They hurried to their personal cubbies to retrieve their backpacks and lunchboxes. 

"Alright, alright, boys and girls, line up against the wall, Miss Thompson will lead you out. See you guys on Monday." Announced Mrs. Whitey, a short middle aged Caucasian woman with greying red hair, tied in a loose high bun atop her round head. 

"Have a good weekend Mrs. Whitney." The kids replied in a singsong tone, their eyes wide, their cheeks lifted with bright smiles and giggles. 

Cara looked at the kindergarteners with a loving grin, while the tiny humans lined against the wall in alphabetical order, just like she had taught them when the year began. Once the children were all line up, Cara grabbed her purse, and bid Mrs. Whitney goodbye then she led the kids out to the car rider's loop, where eager parents awaited for their children. 

After the last child had been picked up, Cara crossed into the staff parking lot and to her car. She removed the Teacher's assistant badge from around her neck, and hung it on her the handle of her rearview mirror. The she started her baby blue sedan, and exited the school grounds. Cara listened to the latest hits on the radio radio, while making way to the local grocery store. It was Friday, which meant payday, which also meant it was time to restock the fridge. 

In the grocery store, Cara entered the line where her favorite cashier was checking out customers. 

When it was Cara's turn, she placed her items on belt, then she approached the register. 

"Hello Miss Bernadette. Happy Friday." Cara greeted. 

"My, my, aren't you happy today." Bernadette, a tall full-figured woman, with dark skin and and purple gums replied. 

"Well, it is Friday. I just got paid, which means shopping spree." Cara explained, while pulling out her card, given that Bernadette was almost done scanning the items. 

"That's true," Bernadette agreed, "By the way, how's your dad? Did he retire yet?" 

"He's doing good, but he still has three more months to go. Between you and me, I can't wait until his last day. Dad's been working ever since I can remember, so this will be good for him." Cara explained, while inserting her card and entering her pin. 

"Well, just make sure you say hello for me." 

"You know, I can give you his number, and you can ask him out." Cara suggested.

"Child, have you lost your mind?" Bernadette replied, while Cara put her card away and began grabbing her bags and transferring them back to her cart. 

"I'm just saying Miss Bernadette, we're in this new age where women can actually ask a guy out now if they're interested." Cara explained, while the next customer approached the register. 

"Well I still like the idea of a man making he first move. Call me old fashioned, but that's how I like it." Bernadette admitted proudly. 

Cara smiled, then shook her head and bid Bernadette goodbye. After placing her groceries in the backseat of her car, Cara headed home. Cara entered her key in the lock, and twisted it open. She pushed the door with her foot, while all her ten digits held on to the grocery bags, as well as her purse for dear life. 

"Hey, old man!" Cara called out upon entering the house, then kicking it shut with her heel, "You in here?" 

"I'm still breathing if that's what you're asking." Cara heard her father reply from the living room, while she passed by and headed directly to the kitchen. 

"Well, you're a dinosaur and you survived the meteor, so I'm not surprised." Cara replied with a smile, while quickly placing her baggage down, hoping to save her wrists from popping out of place due to the weight and the pull of gravity. 

Cara saw to placing each item in their respective places, before heading back towards the front of the house, and to the living room. Cara entered the space to find her father, a tall black man with a full round face, and greying hair sitting in an armchair facing the television. Cara lowered herself, placing a swift kiss on her father's forehead, before taking a seat in the couch on her father's left hand side. Her dad sent her a quick side glance, before his eyes focused back on the television screen. 

"What are you watching?" Cara asked, while pulling her phone out of her pocket and taking a moment to check her notifications. 

"Nothing really," her father huffed out, "I honestly can't find anything clean to watch. I'm tired of reruns and movies today are not what they used to be." 

"Mmh hmm." Cara hummed, "sounds like the same problem you had yesterday, and the day before..."

"And the day before." Her father finished the sentence. 

Cara laughed at his actions, while Joe Thompson sent a look towards his daughter. She had the wild curly hair and dark caramel skin, with freckles on her nose. Her dark brown eyes carried a light similar to her father's, a kindness and goodness that couldn't be faked. 

"Guess that makes me wonder how you're going to spend your retirement days." Cara thought out loud. 

"Yep! But I'm not worried. I'll probably pick up fishing, or maybe even gardening." Joe said excitedly. 

Cara rose an eyebrow, "Gardening? Oh I'm going to have to see it to believe."

"Ha-ha." Joe laughed dryly, "How was work?" 

"It was great. Love the kiddos even after six months into the semester. I actually can't think about them leaving the classroom next year, but at the same time, I can't wait until I have my own classroom." Cara replied. 

"Think you might get that promotion next year?" Joe asked in a hopeful tone. 

"Hopefully, but as long as I get to teach, it doesn't matter my position." Cara shrugged, then they fell silent. 

Cara continued scrolling on her phone, her hand absentmindedly rubbing the area above her forehead, just outlining her hairline. After a few few had evaporated into minutes, with both people caught in their own bubble of thoughts, Cara broke the silence. 

"By the way, Bernadette said hello." Cara relayed the message, and she lifted her eyes just to see her father's reaction. 

His eyebrows rose just slightly, and a small smile played at the corners of his lips. 

"Did she now?" He asked, as if trying to mask his excitement. 

"Yes she did, but honestly dad, I'm tired of being the messenger," Cara sat up,  "why don't you ask her out? You guys are part of the same community, you've tasted her cooking at the church potlucks, she's nice, always smiling and kind to others. I don't see why you haven't snatched her up yet." 

"I mean, I guess I never thought of that." Joe admitted gullibly, then he added, "It's just, she's such a woman, beautiful, classy, and I don't know, every time I see her, I freeze." 

"You like her, and she likes you too. One of you have to make a move, and it'll be you, cause apparently that's what Bernadette likes, for he man to make the first move. So be the man." Cara encouraged. 

"Alright, I'll think about it. It's- It's been so long since your mother... I-" Joe shrugged, and looked away. 

Cara smiled sadly. He hardly ever mentioned her mom, and she understood that her dad may not have yet fully healed from her mother dying ten years ago, when she was thirteen years old. But Cara also knew that it was time her dad had a new partner, especially since he was going into retirement soon. Aside from that, Cara hoped to meet someone and be married in a few years and she needed her dad to not be alone when that day came. 

Cara nodded her head, but said nothing more. She looked back at her phone, and a few more moments passed in silence. 

"Anyways... what do you say I get started on dinner," Cara offered, while looking at her phone. 

"Any special requests? Because if not, I found some awesome recipes we could try." Cara spoke on, her eyes locked on the screen of her smartphone, while she began searching the website.

Joe didn't answer. 

"Dad." Cara called out, her fingers still scrolling through the endless recipes. 

Still, Joe didn't answer his daughter's call. 

"Dad." Cara called out again, this time her eyes snapped up to the unexpected sight of her father's entire body limp and pulsing against the arm chair. 

Cara felt her shock manifest in the form of an explosion from her scalp then down to every corner of her body. Her skin swelled with goosebumps, her eyes growing wider than crop circles in a corn field. 

"Oh my gosh." Cara gasped out while jumping to her feet and running to her father's aid. 

Unable to get her father on the ground, Cara's shaking hands dialed 911, then she pressed the flat device against her buzzing right ear.

"911, what's your emergency?"

"My dad, I think he's having a stroke. He's a 64 year old male, about six feet tall. Black."

"Alright, the address I am seeing based on the location of this call is 346 Mullony Road, is that correct?" The lady replied on the other side of the phone. 

"Yes that's correct. Please hurry." Cara replied in haste. 

"Alright, I already have an ambulance dispatched to your location. Ma'am, can you please explain what your dad is experiencing right now?" 

Cara looked at her father in fear.

"He's- He's um," Cara gulped, "his arms and legs are limp, but every two seconds, his entire body pulses, like a heartbeat." 

Her voice was shaking, her breath trembling. 

"Is he having any trouble breathing?" The operator asked. 

"No. Um, no." Cara gulped again, her eyes unable to stand the sight of her father's opened eyes, which stared her way, helpless. 

"Is there anything else? Is he going blue around the lips? Is there any drooping in his face or anywhere else? Can you get him to speak with you?"

"His eyes are wide open, his mouth jaw seems to be locked. He's not making a sound" Cara described, then a sob escaped her throat, "Please hurry!" Cara sobbed helpless. 

"Alright, ma'am help is on the way, but I need you to stay calm okay. Let's take a deep breath, can you do that for me?" 

Cara nodded, but her eyes were flooded. She squeaked. Her throat constricted due to the burning lumps of unshed tears.

"Alight, deep breath in, deep breath out." The operator coached, and Cara nodded her head once again, trying to follow the operator's instructions. 

"Okay, good. Let's do that again. Deep breath in, deep breath out. The EMTs are almost there." The operator reassured, and though it was slightly comforting to know, that still didn't stop the tears from flowing down Cara's face. 

Her father was all she had, Cara couldn't imagine losing him right now. 

"Alright, it appears the EMTs are directly outside your door, go ahead and open up." The operator instructed. 

"Thank you." Cara thanked, just as she heard a loud knock on the door. 

Cara hurried to the door, and opened it. 

"Where is the patient?" Spoke the male EMT, and Cara led him to the living room without a word. 

The technician was followed by his partner, a tall blonde woman who pushed a yellow stretcher. The male EMT managed to get lower the armchair into a lying position, while his partner saw to locking the stretcher next to the chair. 

"He's big-boned, we're going to need the board." The Tech explained. 

His partner nodded, then she headed out of the door to retrieve the board, just as a third EMT entered the house. He had a tablet in his hands, and strapped over his shoulder. 

"Good afternoon Ma'am, my name is Mark, can I have your name please?"

"Cara Thompson."  Cara replied, although her eyes were  solely locked on her father's helpless form, which was still pulsing every two seconds. 

"Okay Cara, can you tell me you dad's name?" 

"Joseph Thompson. He goes by Joe." 

"How old is he?" 

"64, his birthday is in three months." 

"Do you know how much he weighs?" 

"No."

"Any previous medical history?"

"No, no, "Cara shook her head, "he was fine. He was healthy. We were just having a conversation. He was fine." Cara pressed with a soft sob. 

"I understand this is difficult ma'am, but we're gonna do everything we can to help him." Mark reassured, just as the blonde returned with the plastic board. 

"Excuse me." Mark said, while swinging the tablet on his back, and heading towards the other EMTs. 

They worked together to swiftly move Joe's body from the chair to the stretcher. Once that was done, the EMTs wasted no time rolling the stretcher out of the house. 

"We're taking him to South East Bernam Hospital. You can meet us there." Mark informed. 

"Okay, thank you." Cara replied. 

She dashed to the kitchen and grabbed her purse. She locked the door and entered her car just as the techs loaded her dad into the back of the ambulance. They spent a few minutes before moving from Cara's house, and when they were finally on the road, Cara followed closely behind, with both hands shaking on the steering wheel. Cara told herself not to cry. Her tears had dried up, but her fear was very real. 

Throughout the entire drive Cara kept telling herself that her father wasn't going to die. He wasn't going to die. He couldn't. 

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Hello you lovely people! 

Just wanted to say a quick thanks for stopping by my story and giving it a chance. Ihope you enjoy!

Lots of ❤❤❤

-Tania.