Cole was sitting in the chair by the window with his knees pulled up to his chest. Denise was standing behind him with her hands on his shoulders.
Greg hadn’t spoken since the night before. His breathing had changed. Slow. Long gaps between breaths. The nurse said it wouldn’t be long.
Nathan leaned close to his father’s face.
“Dad,” he whispered. “I’m here. I’m right here.”
Greg didn’t open his eyes.
But his hand moved. Just a little. In Nathan’s.
Nathan started singing.
Quietly. Badly. Off-key. Just to his father.
“Blame it all on my roots…”
And as he sang, he reached up with his free hand.
And put it on his father’s cheek.
Like he was feeling the song come out.
Greg took one more breath.
Ezoic
A long one.
Ezoic
Then he didn’t take another.
Nathan kept singing. All the way to the end of the chorus. His voice breaking on every line.
