The whole thing was hazy. Damien remembers his daughter’s birth mostly by the doctor barking commands at him. He would run errands around the small office because the midwife was out. Fetching water, towels and even having to take Charlie’s blood pressure at some point. The process was long, tiring and for Charlie; incredibly painful. After almost 16 hours of labor, a little girl was born. Only Charlie could hold her for a little while before she was forced to hand her back to the doctor. Neither Charlie or the baby was doing well. Both of them had to stay at the doctor’s for at least two nights of observation. They would’ve been sent to a hospital; If only there was one. There was only this small doctors office, With fees so high only the fortunate could pay them. Thankfully, Damien belongs to this group.
Damien sat in a chair next to Charlie’s bed, trying to get a little bit of rest. He would need to return to work the next morning. Damien was woken up from his little nap by the ringing of a phone. It was the Doctor’s. Seconds after she answered it Damien could see her face fall. She walked towards Damien with a concerned expression on her face. “Mr.Coleson, Your wife’s maiden name is Corleonesi; Correct?” Damien nodded. Furrowing his eyebrows, wondering why she was asking. “I just got a call from Mr.Corleonesi’s nurse. He- he doesn’t have long.” Damien stood up. “Shit.” “Would you like to leave and say goodbye to your father-in-law? I can look after your wife for a while.”Damien shook his head. “I can’t leave my child or my wife alone right now. Tony will have to-“
He was interrupted by a tug on his jeans. Charlie had her eyes half open and they were glistening with tears. “Go.” She whispered. Damien opened his mouth to protest, but Charlie interrupted him. “If you love me even a bit, go.” Instead of desperation she was now radiating fury. “Okay.”
Damien made his way through the cold night to the address the Doctor had given him. The building that stood before him looked barren and dark. Was this really where Charlie grew up? He gave the front door a little push an it creaked open.
. The space he stood in was boarded with rotten wood. A small orange loveseat and a bookplank lined the wall under the stairs. An unsafe looking fireplace stood central in the room. A tiny dirty kitchen seemed shoved into a corner and hadn’t been used in while. A Sink and a mirror lined the wall opposing the fireplace.
Damien made his way upstairs and was surprised with a rather large oval space that seemed split in three. The biggest part seemed to resemble a study. A computer, a punching bag and two shelves with knickknacks and clothes filled the room.
A small bed, big plush bear and a used looking art table were the main features, through a small rubber duckie and an ironic wooden police car toy were also there. Damien wondered why the art table looked so used and yet there were no pictures up on the wall.
“I’d give you the grand tour, if I wasn’t feeling like shit.” A weakened version of what he knew as Tony’s voice spoke from the other side of the room. A husk of the man he once was, the grayed version of Tony Corleonesi lays on a double bed. “It’s been a while Tony.” “Sure as hell has been. Now get over here, so can stop shouting.” Grumpier than ever.
Damien took a seat next to Tony’s bed. “Why are you here anyway? I want Charlie here.” “She couldn’t make it.” “Why?” Damien, Already annoyed with the old man; spoke. “Because as of two hours ago, you’re a grandfather.” A smile crossed Tony’s face. “Mika must be ecstatic, How is she holdin’ up anyway?” Damien briefly considered telling him the truth, but didn’t feel like making the man grieve in the last hours of his life. “She’s doing fine.” Tony nods. “Good. Can’t stand the thought of her lights going out before mine. Anyway, you are actually kind of convenient for once.” Damien lifted an eyebrow. “How?” Tony pushed himself up against the pillow. “I’m an old man with long story. You’re a writer trying to make it big. I hope you brought a notepad boy, ‘Cause I’ve got a story to tell.”