“I don’t want to be here anymore, Daddy.”
My stomach sank.
“We don’t have any choice,” I pointed out.
“I wish she’d take those pills she is always threatening to take.”
I closed my eyes, which was dangerous seeing as I was driving down the middle of a switchback.
When I opened them again, I said, “Two more years, Bossy.”
“I’m not waiting two years to talk to you,” she stated emphatically. “I refuse. She’s stolen enough of our lives, Dad. No more.”
I tended to agree, but I wasn’t going to be the one to steal that from my daughter.
“I’m going to talk to Grandma and Grandpa. We’ll figure this out.”
“Love you, Bossy.”
“Love you, too.” She hesitated. “I hope your lady friend gets better. She sounds pretty special if you were willing to tell me about her.”
I smiled. “Have a good day at school.”
“I’ll try.”
I hung up in a better mood than when I went into the phone call.
By the time I arrived at home, showered and changed, I was already late for work.
My boss didn’t seem to notice or care, and only handed out assignments for the day.
I would be putting a couple of new meters in and installing a new telephone pole.
All pretty mundane, routine work, but work, nonetheless.
The entire day, I did nothing but think about Bossy and Eddy.
At the end of the day, though, there was only one of the two that I could actually see.
So I headed to the hospital for another night of no sleep.
Fourteen
How are you doing today?
I despise the living, curse them all.
—Conversation between Eddy and Weaver
Eddy
I opened my eyes to pain.
Nothing but pain.
“Hey, hey. You’re okay.”
I looked over at the man at my side and frowned, my eyes blurry with pain.
