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John held Janet and sobbed. He stroked her thin blonde hair and kissed her while apologizing. The doctor came in and gave him her sympathy. John gently rested Janet’s head against the pillow and the doctor pronounced the time of death. The doctor told John that he could take all the time he needed. John said thank you and the doctor left.
As John stared at his daughter’s lifeless body, he felt a strong grip on his shoulders. He turned around to see Mike. Mike wiped the tears from his tired eyes and smiled at John. John stood up and Mike hugged him as John cried. Mike apologized to John and reassured him that Janet was in a better place. John thanked Mike, but he did not feel that Janet was in a better place. The better place would be with him.
Mike told John that they should leave and get something to eat and talk. John reluctantly agreed and looked at Janet one more time. Mike helped him grab the flowers, stuffed animals, and get-well cards. John thanked the hospital staff for their care as they left. He felt that he was abandoning Janet, but the staff reassured John that they would take loving care of her.
Mike started his truck and asked John where he would like to eat. John told him that he was not hungry and just wanted to go home. Mike told him that if he needed anything to call him no matter the time. The rest of the drive was silent.
Mike dropped off John at his house and reminded John to call him if he needed anything. John waved and Mike returned the wave. John opened the door and felt the familiar feeling of the hair creeping up on the back of his neck. John just wanted to sleep and never wake up. In front of him was the darkness of his empty home. The home he shared with Ashley, Michelle, and Janet. No more life was left in this home.
John dropped the boxes of get-well cards, flowers, and stuffed animals on the floor. He closed the front door and went upstairs in the darkness. He arrived in Janet’s room and opened the door. The pink walls were covered by posters of boy bands and movies. Her bed was made, and her trophies and pictures were all organized just the way she liked it. He remembered when he first showed Janet the room and her reaction. He sat on her bed and picked up Te Te. He stared at Te Te when he heard a voice in the darkness.
“She is not here anymore. You look thirsty. Go on and have a drink,” the deep familiar voice echoed and laughed.
John looked up and saw the flaming eyes and eerie smile in the corner.
“You know you need it. Drink and sleep forever,” the demon said.
John looked down at Te Te, who was now Janet’s lifeless body. He gasped and dropped her as the demon laughed. John closed his eyes and saw Janet and flashbacks of their time together. Trips to the beach, basketball games, card games, building blocks, and tea parties surrounded his mind. As the demon continued to laugh, John opened his eyes with a determined look.
“I told you that you will never have me again! I am stronger than you! Never come back!” John yelled.
The demon stopped laughing and began to disintegrate. The demon begged and pleaded with John, who stared at the disintegrating demon. The demon screamed and vanished.
John took a breath of relief and lied down in Janet’s bed, crying himself to sleep