“It kills me that I can’t do anything to protect your sister… or maybe that’s the cancer.”

Isaac raised a brow. He was used to his father’s humor. He had called him an edgelord once. The subsequent conversation trying to explain what that meant had actually made Isaac feel stupid.

“I don’t see that we have any choice,” his father continued. “You have to take your sister and leave.”

Isaac didn’t say anything.

“I see you’ve come to the same conclusion.”

His face must’ve revealed his thoughts.

“I’m not letting them do anything to hurt Sofia,” Isaac said.

“And you can’t become one of them.” Isaac’s father tapped a shaking finger on the crumpled up draft notice. “No son of mine is going to shed their blood and kill for the man.”

“Except, we can’t leave you and mom… they’ll hurt you to get back at me and Sofia,” Isaac said.

“Two more days till Sofia has to go to that party.”

There was a surprising amount of strength and venom in Isaac’s father’s voice.

“I would’ve whupped those boys before all of… this.”

Isaac found it hard to watch his father’s wasted form shake. He didn’t doubt his father’s words. When he had been adopted, Isaac had been scared of the huge, strong man at first. That fear had made him lash out like the brat he was. His father had been patient, gentle with a warm smile as wide as his shoulders.

“I could, could…” Isaac’s voice went soft, low, “make them go away?”

Isaac’s father smiled sadly. He reached out with withered hand that was once as large as catcher’s mitts, as thick as a ham. He covered Isaac’s hand. “You gonna burn them, son? All of them? That’s fifty-sixty people.” His father whistled, low. “And they are people still… no matter how bad they are, how rotten they are on the inside. You gonna take that rot into you?”

“Don’t want to, but if it makes things better for everyone else? Keeps Sofia safe, you and mom,” Isaac shrugged.

“Like I always told you, son. Defending yourself is right. Hitting cause you’re scared of what someone else might do… well, that’s a different matter.”

“I don’t want to leave you and mom. I don’t want it to end this way.” Isaac found himself choking up.

“End’s the end. It’s gonna happen no matter what we want. I’ve lived a good, happy life with your mother. Raised two great kids. It’s a life a man can be proud off. Your mom and me all we wanted was to leave you and Sofia better off than we were. Them crazy ass spires messed that all up, but you got to play with what you were dealt with.” Isaac’s father took a few moments to catch his breath. “There ain’t no right life for you and Sofia here. It terrifies me to think of what’s waiting for you out there, but I hope, I know you’re strong enough to carve out a place.”

Isaac couldn’t look his father in the eyes. He didn’t want his tears noticed.

“Been working on something when you and your sister have been out of the house.”

Issac’s father handed him a key.

“Basement? Wait, what? You’re supposed to be resting.”

Issac’s father shook his head. “Doctors said I had months. That was three years ago. Ain’t my style to lay in bed and wait to die. Why I hate taking those shots. Might as well be dead. Anyways, get down there and get packed up.”

Isaac frowned at the key.

“Wha—”

“No arguments and no running to your mother. I already got her on board. Now hurry on. I ain’t going anywhere.”

“You should rest, dad. Take a shot. It’ll ease the pain.”

Isaac’s father snorted. “Been living with pain for years,” he crowed, “it’s an old friend. Lets me know I’m still alive! Still with you guys!”

Isaac forced a smile. “Okay, fine, be difficult.”

“Keeps you on your toes.”

Isaac descended into the basement. It had been awhile since his father had taken to locking the door. Whenever he had asked why? He never got a straight answer. He wasn’t really one to push anyways. Unlike his younger sister, who was a pest. Not that she had success either.

Guns and ammo were waiting for him.

His father’s father’s old M14 from the Vietnam war lay on the table. It had been polished to a near perfection. Their well used .22 was next to it. Several magazines and two ammo cases were neatly stacked to the side.

“The fuck,” Isaac said. He didn’t know his father had the Gunsmith Class. That’s what the readied guns and ammo meant, right?

He couldn’t very well test them out, so he found his already prepared bug out bag and meticulously went through it to make sure everything was in order. To find if he was missing anything.

The work kept his mind off of what was to come.

Time passed quicker than Isaac would’ve liked. The moment he had been dreading had arrived. It was Saturday afternoon. His father had taken a turn for the worse the last two days. The pain had gotten too much and he had spent Friday in an uneasy sleep thanks to the morphine Isaac had gotten from the city.

Isaac stood outside the closed door to his father and mother’s bedroom. Sofia was inside.

“It’s okay, honey,” Isaac’s mom said.

“No it isn’t,” Isaac mumbled.

Isaac’s mother’s eyes were watery. “Never could quite get that out of you,” she smiled.

“Sorry. I always think I’m being louder than I really am.”

“Doesn’t matter, now. Isaac, I want you to know that your father and I are happy with this.”

“But… isn’t it wrong? Church—”

“I thought the same, but now… I think, it’s only a sin if you do it out of selfishness. It’s not the same when you’re doing it for those you love, Jes—”

Isaac raised a hand. “I know, mom… you know I never really understood your faith.”

“How so?”

“You’re an academic, rational, logical in almost every other way except…”

“You can’t explain away your faith, Issac. It just is,” Isaac’s mother smiled warmly.

Isaac held up a finger and created a small flame, like a candle. “Where does this fit in?”

His mother sighed, “I’ve already told you my thoughts on that. I can see it and feel the heat. It and all those other things people are doing now will be explained one day.

His mother’s smile was as beautiful as it always was. It pained him to know that this was the last time he’d see it. He tried to burn it into his memory. That was why he had his useless phone in his bag. Maybe one day they’d work again or someone would figure it out. The photos and videos stored within were all he had to remember his parents.

It was saddening to see how much his mother had aged in the last few years. The stress and worry of his father’s illness, then the spires shattering what they thought was reality had weighed on her.

“You’re doing it again.”

Isaac nodded.

“Sometimes it’s okay not to think too much. Just be in the moment. We cherish the times we have with each other.”

“I… I’ll try.”

“Your father and I are proud of you. You’ve grown into a fine young man and we’re glad to have played a part in that.”

“You guys did it all. I owe everything I am to you and dad. I’m sorry I was so terrible.”

“Understandable, honey. You were a scared child when we adopted you and your sister. The things you must’ve went through.”

Isaac shook his head. “I don’t remember too much,” he lied a little. His original parents. The orphanage. They weren’t something he liked to think about. “My point stands. I was a terrible child and I will be eternally grateful that you stuck with me.”

“Mom… I-I know there’s no way Dad can go with us, but yo—”

Isaac’s mother put a hand on his shoulder and just gently shook her head.

“Your father and I promised to stay together till the end. I’ve lived a full life. And thanks to you and your sister I got to be a mother after I had given up on that possibility.” Isaac’s mother smiled. “I am content.”

Isaac wiped at his eyes.

The door opened and a red-eyed Sofia stepped out into her mother’s embrace.

Isaac steeled himself and went in.

It was time to say goodbye to his father.