The Day the Music Died - Erica & Matt || Day 12
Someone else had joined them, but Matt had given up trying to be a rock for people. Instead he’d closed himself into his room to watch his son get sicker and sicker despite everything they did. Zach was in and out of consciousness at this point, and although Todd seemed determined to be optimistic, Matt had lost his the moment his terrified had pressed himself into his arms the words ‘I don’t want to die’ reverberating in his head.
He looked like shit and he knew it, but he didn’t stir from the bedside, even when the door opened. Just kept his son’s hand clasped tightly in his and prayed silently. Please God don’t take him too. You’ve already got Claire. Let me keep him a while longer, please please please. Most of it consisted of begging and he wasn’t too proud to admit it. He’d served his country chasing down bad guys and putting them behind bars so they couldn’t hurt people, but his family meant more than all of that.
They meant everything and he’d already lost part of it. The person behind him shifted and he knew it wasn’t Todd or Marshall, so he lifted a hand to rub at his grizzled chin. “He’s out right now. Was afraid to give him anything too strong for the pain. He’s only eight.” This last was said on a whisper.
