May

I walked out of my father's hospital room, sighing as I saw the familiar number light up on my screen. Excusing myself, and closing the door quietly behind me, I answered the phone in the near-empty hallway.

'Alex, are you okay?' I asked, my voice coated in worry. I couldn't even leave them for twenty-four hours, how was I going to stay away for a few months?

'Do you love me enough to take me in?' His question was rushed, and my heart broke. I bit my lip, guilt filling my stomach. I could say no, and there would be hope for him and my brother, or I could say yes, and be in his arms again in a matter of hours. I tapped my foot on the floor, my nervousness showing physical signs. I decided on avoiding the question, hoping to buy myself a few minutes until I needed to make the crushing decision - for either Alex and I, or Jack alone.

'What's happened?' I tried to keep my voice steady, and act sensibly. Alex didn't need to know how shaken I was.

'He brought some guy home and they fucked, knowing I was here. I accidentally barged in on them.' Anger at my brother's actions filled me. How could he be so stupid?

'Put him on.' More minutes. Maybe I could tell Jack what I did Alex. He surely heard Alex's question, the house was so small. I crossed an arm across my body, waiting for an answer.

'Can't, he's walked out.' Alex finally said, slowly and cautiously. I could imagine him turning his head to look at Jack on the couch, and then turn back to the phone after a murderous glare from Jack.

'Alex.'

'Fine.' A bit of shuffling and my brother's gruff voice was sent down the line.

'What do you want?'

'Hello to you too, Jack,' I replied, leaning against the wall. 'What's been going on?'

'I hooked up.'

'And?' I was beginning to tire of this, only get a few word answers. The boys needed to give me something more, or else I wouldn't be able to help them.

'And what? I'm single, I can fuck anyone I want to.'

'Jack! First of all, don't say that in front of Alex -'

'Why not? He fucked you.' I could hear him wince as he stated that. I ignored this interruption though,

'And two, I didn't mean it like that. And what else happened? Obviously something did, or Alex wouldn't have rung me.'

'You know what, May, nothing else happened. You can go off with Alex, for all I care. Fuck the both of you. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to see if I can have a round two.' The phone was passed back to Alex, while I stood there shouting at my brother.

A nurse came up to me and tapped my arm.

'Excuse me, miss. You'll have to quieten down. We have patients here.' Noting the tears about to overflow my eyes, she changed her tune, saying, 'there's a free room down the hall.'

I nodded a thanks and wiped away the tears of anger. It was embarrassing at times, but also useful.

'May?'

'No! Damn it, Alex! Work it out, both of you. I have enough troubles on my plate. God, my dad is dying, and I have to somehow work out your couple problems too.' I shouted after closing the door behind me.

'Fine, May. We'll work this out. But don't just say they're my couple problems, because you're involved too.' Alex hung up and I slammed my phone on the desk. The nurse opened the door and walked in.

'Are you feeling better?'

I nodded, not trusting myself to say a word.

'Are you visiting a family member today, or?'

I nodded again, my throat closing up. 'My dad,' I managed, 'he died about half an hour ago. A few hours after I arrived in America. My brother's back in England. I don't know how to tell him.' Fat tears rolled down my cheeks as I collapsed into a chair. 'I don't know how to break it to him.'

The nurse walked over and rubbed my back soothingly. 'I'm sorry, honey. You'll work it out.'

Notes

c0l0urfultears
Title credit: Don't Go - Bring Me The Horizon