Page 21 of Unfix Me
“And what is that?”
“Sorry. Privileged information. When you’ve gone a full week without death staring at me, I’ll think about telling you.”
“I don’t give you adeath stare.”
“You do, but it’s fine. I’m not that easily offended. If it was directed at West, he’d probably call me over for cookies and cream so he could pout.”
He chuckled lightly. “You forgot to tell me your age.”
“Eighteen. Wait, nineteen.”
“Are you sure?”
“As of today, yeah.”
“Wait… It’s your birthday?”
With a grimace, I nodded. “Hence the private ice rink.”
“So, you bailed on your own birthday party.”
“It wasn’t a party. Just a casual hangout. And yeah, I bailed. My head just isn’t in it.”
“Why not? If that’s too personal…”
As I pulled into the parking lot, I contemplated what I wanted to say. I hardly knew Sen, but maybe sounding off to an objective party would actually help. He was showing interest, which was cool, and I didn’t want to discourage it.
“My dad is sick,” I told him after I put the car in park. I turned and met his inquisitive eyes. He didn’t say anything while he waited for me to go on. “Alzheimer’s.”
“Shit. I’m sorry. Is this new?”
“No. My parents had me late, when they were in their mid-forties. He was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s when I was two. We always knew it’d worsen, but things started getting bad during my senior year.”
“Did something happen before we left?”
I shrugged and traced the line of my steering wheel. “Just the shit in my own head. I don’t care that he didn’t remember my birthday. Maybe he doesn’t even remember me today. I think… Sometimes, I can’t stop myself from dwelling on the fact that the memories I have are probably the last substantial ones I’ll have with him.”
“Maybe, in a fucked up kind of way, it makes them more special. When something precious becomes limited, it’s worth more.”
“That was surprisingly beautiful,” I laughed through my emotions.
“Contrary to popular belief, I’m not only known for my death glare.”
“Wow. He jokes.”
He opened his door, then looked at me. “Consider it a birthday present.”
“Thank you. Not for the birthday present. For listening, even though you barely know me.”
His eyes glazed a little as if he was thinking. After a moment, he shrugged. “We’re neighbors. If you need more unhelpful analogies, you can pop over.”
With a small wave, he shut the door and stepped onto the curb. I watched him until he disappeared around a bend in the path. I could’ve walked with him, but I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be in my room right now. It was late, but was it ever really too late to throw a ball? No. No, it was not.
Chapter 8
Sen
Mom:Mr. Hamilton is in the office until 5 today.
