The Beautiful Prequel

It seems so long ago that I made the decision to move back to Atlanta. Almost a year ago, I was celebrating New Year's Eve. I was laying in bed after a long night of champagne and watching the countdown with Remy when I received a text message from my Dad's lady friend. At this time I was living in New York. I had an apartment on the 6th floor of a run-down building in Rockaway Park, the very last stop on the southbound A train, with beautiful views of Far Rock, Manhattan, and the beach. Laying in bed I can remember looking at the text message on my phone emotionless. My father had been hurt really bad. He had fallen from a parking garage and broken his right arm as well as his right hip and shattered his right ankle. He would be in the ICU for a while... I didn't know what to say other than thank you for texting me. I didn’t wanna call my mom with the bad news, it was late at night and after all, it was the first day of a new year, no one else should have to start their year off like this. Two days pass and I still can't find the words to share the information. I'm in disbelief I suppose. She finally calls me asking if I've spoken to my father. I tell her what happened. Apparently, a fraternity brother was looking for him. In shock, my mother asks why I didn’t tell her sooner. I have no answer. I guess I was still in shock myself. The question in my mind was why did this happen? He’s too smart to try and kill himself and fail. The man has a degree from Brown University for Christ's sake. Could he have been thrown? That has to be the only possibility I could think of besides simply being so intoxicated that he blacked out and stumbled over. In my thirty years, I have never heard of anyone doing that nor have I seen him drink to the point of blacking out. Maybe this is a good time to move closer to my family. Life is short. I feel like my father needs me. I love my life here in New York even though I promised Remy after a year here we could move back because he had lived here for nine years now. Not to mention I was starting to hear more talks about this virus coming from China and living so close to JFK is triggering since I rely on the A train. Coincidently my lease is up next month. All signs are pointing to my second home.