For an entire week , Felix dragged my dad to Sasha's place every day , and every time , they got a tongue- lashing for their trouble . My dad's hair had turned completely white , and he looked ancient and frail . For seven days straight , he shuffled around like a ghost , not saying a single word . But every time they came home , he would sit alone , talking to himself . " When Lydia shredded your stuffed animal , I slapped you and locked you in the storage room . How did you feel back then ? " I knew he couldn't hear me , but I still answered honestly . " I was terrified . I screamed until my voice was gone , scratched my nails bloody , but you never let me out . I wet my pants , and you didn't even ask if I was scared . You just made me kneel and apologize to Lydia . " My dad slapped himself over and over , his face swollen . He sobbed so hard his nose was running . " You went through cancer surgery alone , went into the emer- gency room by yourself - how awful that must have been for you . " I forced a smile . " It wasn't that bad . My heart just went dead , that's all . When I was dying and you wouldn't come see me , you gave up on me as a daughter , so I gave up on you as a father . " My dad clawed at his own arms until they were covered with bloody scratches . Choking back tears , he pleaded , " Eileen , I ... I regret it . Please , give me a chance to make it right ? " No. Not even a little . The day I walked out of that ER alone , my heart died for good . *** Every day , my dad ranted and raved . Felix ignored him , spending his days begging Sasha for forgive- ness and his nights drowning in cheap whiskey . 0.0 % 09:23 Chapter 9 288 Vouchers Empty bottles littered the floor . Once , Felix landed in the ER himself from a bleeding ulcer , but even that didn't stop him . He went right back to his nightly drinking . His eyes were bloodshot , stubble shadowed his jaw , and he reeked of alcohol . He didn't do anything around the house , just sat there , scrolling endlessly through our wedding photos , his eyes full of longing . But all I felt was bitter irony . If he truly loved me , why marry Lydia ? Don't give me that " pity for the depressed " excuse - saving a life and all that . Now that I'm dead , he's only cutting Lydia off out of guilt . If I were still alive , he would've married Lydia for her depression , had kids with her , and expected me to just put up with it . He was only ever looking out for himself . If I'd been with someone else , would he have told himself to suck it up , just like he always told me ? I don't buy it . He and my dad were the same - if the knife didn't cut their own flesh , they'd never know pain . Watching this whole farce unfold , all I felt was emptiness and absurdity . On the eighth day , my dad suddenly seemed to come alive , beaming at thin air . " Eileen , you're back ? Look , I fixed your stuffed animal ! Are you happy ? " He dug out an old , battered stuffed toy from my room . It had once been shredded into pieces . No matter how hard I tried to stitch it back together , it never looked the same . I didn't want him touching my things . " Give it back to me ! " I reached for it , but no matter how hard I tried , my hands just passed right through . Felix snatched the toy away . " Don't touch her stuff ! She'll get upset ! " He tried to put the toy away , but my dad lunged at him , biting him so hard he drew blood . The two of 41.6 % 09:23 Chapter 9 288 Vouchers them wrestled on the floor . Aunt Rachel and Sasha came by to pack up my belongings . When they saw the two men bloodied and fighting , they called 911 . After the doctors checked him over , they said my dad had lost his mind . Felix , covered in blood , refused to go to the hospital . He stubbornly demanded my ashes from Sasha . Sasha spat back , " Fine . Mount Rainier , Mount Whitney , Mount Denali , Mount Elbert , Grand Teton ... If you crawl on your knees and pray for Eileen atop all five of these mountains , I'll give you her ashes ! " Felix agreed . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!