The Writer’s Corner features poetry, essays, short stories, satire and various fiction and non-fiction from SCAD Atlanta students. To submit your own work for the Writer’s Corner, email features@scadconnector.com.
‘Father’ by Chloe Polancich
A kind voice over the phone requested my presence.
“He keeps saying your name, ma’am, and he doesn’t have long.” My chest tightened; I hadn’t heard your name in years. I had successfully forgotten about you and I thought you had done the same. You stopped answering my calls five years ago. I walked myself down the aisle.
I pulled my car into a spot on the 3rd floor of the parking garage. It should’ve had my name on it by now. Almost every month you ended up here: new injury, same story.
The fluorescent lights through the hall were bright and the smell of sanitizer burned my nose. My heart raced as I thought about what you would look like. I was about to see your face again after so many years and this time would probably be the last.
“He hasn’t opened his eyes in a few hours, but feel free to talk to him,” said a nurse. I could hardly recognize you. Your hair was long and unkempt and your jaw held patches of grey. When you left us, you were fresh-faced and unremorseful. Now, your nose was flattened and your eye was covered in red-stained gauze. Dried blood grasped pieces of your brittle hair.
I could smell you: booze, blood and death. I grabbed your cold hand and leaned into you.
“Why me? And why now?” I asked. You didn’t move. Your eye didn’t even squirm under your lid. I grabbed your arm and squeezed tight, repeating the questions. Still, nothing.
It’s strange what death did to your hands. Your loose skin turned pale, nearly transparent as if the blood had already left them. But the monitor’s rhythmic beeping proved you were still alive, or at least your heart was.
“Why isn’t he answering? I know he can hear me.” I asked the nurse. She explained to me the extent of your injuries. Your body was tired and losing the battle.
I released my grip on your arm which was glowing red from the pressure. I stepped away from your side, watching the monitor slowly spike up and down. I turned to the nurse who seemed to pity me more than you.
“Thank you,” I said to her. “Whether he wakes up or not, please, do not call me again.” She nodded her head. I grabbed a coffee from the cafeteria and made my back way to the car. The coffee tasted horrible, so I dumped it on the street.
I will forget you again.