her to come over and meet his father. She was a total wreck. She knew if his father was as sweet as Matthew, she'd get along with him just fine. But for Chloe, it was just one more person to lie to. Before leaving, she looked up at Matthew and knew she'd have to tell him the truth. When she got ready to open her mouth, he whisked her out the door.
Walking inside of Matthew's apartment, Chloe saw a man who looked ten years older than what he really was. Smoke filled the room. The white ceiling and walls were stained with nicotine, and she watched as the man put his cigarette down in the ashtray and then try to stand to greet her from his wheelchair.
"No, you don't have to get up," said Chloe as she forced a smile. She felt so sorry for him, for Matthew, for the way they both lived. She could tell right away that they could afford very little, due to the pile of bills that was visible on the kitchen table. The audible sound of oxygen hissing, the sounds of coughing and air hunger, were almost more than she could take.
"Dad, this is Chloe." Matthew kept watching her face for any kind of negative reaction. He knew this was the real test.
Chloe walked over and shook his hand. "It's such a pleasure to meet you."
"Good to meet you as well, Chloe. I'm Conner, and it seems like you've made quite the impression on my son." He tried to chuckle, but ended up in a long coughing spell which totally exhausted him.
After Conner regained his breath and Matthew set him up with a breathing treatment, Chloe could see Matthew's expression change from instant concern to defeat over his lack of ability to provide for this man he obviously had great love for… and his strong desire to leave and get Chloe out of there .
But she didn't want to go until she knew Conner was going to be okay. She slid a kitchen chair over to him and just softly talked. She picked topics which wouldn't make the older man have to speak much. Matthew just sat back and watched from across the room. If she was going to bolt, she would have already went running. He found himself laughing some and joining in the conversation. They stayed for about an hour, and then Chloe went home while Matthew helped his dad to bed.
She waited until she was behind her own door before the tears flowed, and once they started, she struggled with keeping her composure. She heard the deadbolt slide open. With his key, Matthew let himself in. There was no hiding her emotions. Matthew wrapped his arms around her and lifted her face. After wiping her cheeks with his thumbs, he knew what was bothering her.
"He's been sick for years. The roofing company was never able to afford medical insurance for anyone, so I have hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay in medical bills for him. I make monthly payments, but I'll never be able to get him the care he needs. On top of that, I pay all our regular bills. I know you told me that material things don't matter to you, but I was serious when I said I'd never be able to provide you with anything." Matthew's cheeks reddened. "I just want to be honest with you before you get too attached to me."
"Matthew, I'm so sorry your father is ill. Don't be ashamed of not having things or being able to give them. Your heart is what I want, and what you're doing for your father is the most precious, selfless act, ever."
"Chloe, my embarrassment isn't because of the things we lack or from being so far in the hole. It's because of his smoking. He has emphysema and smokes like a chimney, but the stress he feels over the situation it's put me in makes him smoke even more. If you ask him, he'll tell you he's ready to die. But I'm not going to let that happen. Yes, it angers me to see him so sick with a cigarette in his mouth. I wanted more out of life while growing up, but it is what it is, right?"
"Things will work out, Matthew. I…can help you." Chloe knew it was time to tell the truth.
"No. It's not your debt, and I wouldn't accept it."
"But, sweetheart, there
Walking inside of Matthew's apartment, Chloe saw a man who looked ten years older than what he really was. Smoke filled the room. The white ceiling and walls were stained with nicotine, and she watched as the man put his cigarette down in the ashtray and then try to stand to greet her from his wheelchair.
"No, you don't have to get up," said Chloe as she forced a smile. She felt so sorry for him, for Matthew, for the way they both lived. She could tell right away that they could afford very little, due to the pile of bills that was visible on the kitchen table. The audible sound of oxygen hissing, the sounds of coughing and air hunger, were almost more than she could take.
"Dad, this is Chloe." Matthew kept watching her face for any kind of negative reaction. He knew this was the real test.
Chloe walked over and shook his hand. "It's such a pleasure to meet you."
"Good to meet you as well, Chloe. I'm Conner, and it seems like you've made quite the impression on my son." He tried to chuckle, but ended up in a long coughing spell which totally exhausted him.
After Conner regained his breath and Matthew set him up with a breathing treatment, Chloe could see Matthew's expression change from instant concern to defeat over his lack of ability to provide for this man he obviously had great love for… and his strong desire to leave and get Chloe out of there .
But she didn't want to go until she knew Conner was going to be okay. She slid a kitchen chair over to him and just softly talked. She picked topics which wouldn't make the older man have to speak much. Matthew just sat back and watched from across the room. If she was going to bolt, she would have already went running. He found himself laughing some and joining in the conversation. They stayed for about an hour, and then Chloe went home while Matthew helped his dad to bed.
She waited until she was behind her own door before the tears flowed, and once they started, she struggled with keeping her composure. She heard the deadbolt slide open. With his key, Matthew let himself in. There was no hiding her emotions. Matthew wrapped his arms around her and lifted her face. After wiping her cheeks with his thumbs, he knew what was bothering her.
"He's been sick for years. The roofing company was never able to afford medical insurance for anyone, so I have hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay in medical bills for him. I make monthly payments, but I'll never be able to get him the care he needs. On top of that, I pay all our regular bills. I know you told me that material things don't matter to you, but I was serious when I said I'd never be able to provide you with anything." Matthew's cheeks reddened. "I just want to be honest with you before you get too attached to me."
"Matthew, I'm so sorry your father is ill. Don't be ashamed of not having things or being able to give them. Your heart is what I want, and what you're doing for your father is the most precious, selfless act, ever."
"Chloe, my embarrassment isn't because of the things we lack or from being so far in the hole. It's because of his smoking. He has emphysema and smokes like a chimney, but the stress he feels over the situation it's put me in makes him smoke even more. If you ask him, he'll tell you he's ready to die. But I'm not going to let that happen. Yes, it angers me to see him so sick with a cigarette in his mouth. I wanted more out of life while growing up, but it is what it is, right?"
"Things will work out, Matthew. I…can help you." Chloe knew it was time to tell the truth.
"No. It's not your debt, and I wouldn't accept it."
"But, sweetheart, there
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