Fighting Strong by Marysol James Page B

you?” Ryan said.
    “No, thanks.” She smiled at him. “What room is he in?”
    Ryan pointed with his chin. “Three fourteen.”
    She nodded. Adam took her hand again and they left the visitor’s lounge together. When they reached the door of her stepfather’s room, she paused.
    He lifted her chin to meet his eyes. “You ready for this?”
    She nodded.
    He turned the door handle. “I am right here, Katie.” He swung the door open and they went in.
    The man on the bed turned to look at them as they entered. His gray eyes widened and his thin hand grappled with the oxygen mask. He lowered it and stared at Katie.
    “Katie. My God, you came.”
    She stood just inside the door and looked at him quietly.
    He extended a trembling hand to her. “Katie, come closer. Please. Come sit.”
    She slowly approached the bed. Adam leaned against the door with his arms crossed and watched her go, his chest tight with fear and worry. He didn’t like her being in the same state as this fucker, let alone within ten feet.
    Katie sat down on the chair next to the bed, set her camera on the bedside table. Her stepfather put the mask back on, drawing several deep breaths, staring at her the whole time. She watched, surprised at how frail he was. He was almost the same color as the bed sheets and his massive frame was about half the width that it used to be. He must have dropped well over one hundred pounds; he looked shrunk and depleted, all his muscle tone gone.
    He took the oxygen mask off again and reached for Katie’s hand. “Baby –”
    Adam reacted without thinking. He shot forward and growled, “Don’t fucking touch her, not unless you want every fucking bone in your body smashed.”
    The older man’s eyes really took in Adam for the first time. He blinked in surprise and then he saw Adam’s face. It was dark and dangerous, full of barely-restrained fury.
    “Ah,” he said in a weak voice. “I see that Katie has told you about me. About… about what I used to be like.”
    “ Used to?” Adam said.
    “Yes.” Those gray eyes were filling with tears as he gazed at Katie. “I’ve changed, baby. I’ve stopped drinking and I’ve found God.” He gasped for air. “I’ve repented for all the things I’ve done.”
    Adam felt disgust rising in his chest. This piece of shit has found God? Yeah, right! Don’t believe one word that comes out of his mouth, Katie.
    But Katie was looking at Roy with an expression of softness. “Really?”
    “Yes, really.” Roy took some more deep breaths from the mask and she waited. “I’m not the same man I was when you was growing up. I’m – I’m different.”
    “How?”
    “I know how much I hurt you, baby.” Roy sucked more air, his eyes never leaving her face. “I was too hard on you and Ryan sometimes. I wanted you to be tough, see. I knew the world was a bad place, and I tried to get you ready for it.”
    “Oh,” Katie said. “Is that what you were doing? You were helping us?”
    “Yeah. I was toughening you up… and I did it well, right? Look at you now, Katie. You stood on your own two feet these past ten years, right? Made something of yourself? That’s all because of me , you know. You done me proud.”
    “Have I?”
    “Yeah.”
    “I’m so glad that I don’t disappoint you anymore.” She smiled.
    Adam looked at her sharply. “Katie…”
    “No, Adam. He was helping me. He was making me strong.” She turned back to Roy. “Right?”
    “Exactly, baby. Exactly.” He nodded, his pale face gentle and sweet.
    She nodded back. “I understand.”
    “You – what?” Adam said.
    “I mean… I didn’t understand at the time,” Katie said. “I didn’t like being hurt.”
    “I know, Katie. But you was so wilful and disobedient – you never listened and sometimes, I had to be hard on you. I didn’t enjoy it, though. I was just doing my duty.”
    “I see that now. I know I was a difficult child.”
    “And since I done all that good for you then, I need