Benjamin and Mom immediately jumped up and rushed to Dad's side.

I stayed in the same place, not daring to move closer.

I figured I was the last person he'd want to see right now.

I couldn't hear what the doctor was saying, but it made Mom cry even harder.

Dad weakly wiped away her tears, then said something to Benjamin. Benjamin just nodded, but his face was set with determination.

Then, more doctors came over, saying they needed to take Dad away.

He hurriedly put a piece of paper into Mom's hand and kissed the back of her hand before they wheeled him off.

Mom couldn't stop crying.

After the operating room doors closed again, Benjamin helped Mom back to the waiting room.

"Mom," I said softly, announcing my presence.

They both looked at me as if just noticing I was there. I wasn't hurt by this—after all, Dad's life was hanging by a thread.

I sat next to Mom and gently asked, "What happened?"

At my question, tears welled up again in her blue eyes.

"He was shot on his way home. Took two bullets right in front of our house. I called 911 right away, but when we got here, the doctors said one bullet went through his lung and the other through his kidney."

By the end, Mom could barely speak through her tears.

I nodded and started raising my arms to hug her, then dropped them. I figured she wouldn't want me touching her.

"Don't worry, Dad's the strongest man I know. He'll be okay," I said softly, trying to comfort her.

She didn't say anything, just kept crying.

Not knowing how to handle Mom in this state, I went to get everyone coffee from the store.

Time ticked by slowly. Our coffee had gone cold, and still no word on Dad.

I was starting to get anxious. Just then, the doctor came out. His grave expression was telling us it wasn't good news.

Mom must have sensed it too, because she started trembling, unable to even form a question.

It was Benjamin who asked, "Doctor, how's my father?"

"I'm sorry, the patient's injuries were too severe. His heart stopped during surgery. We did everything we could."

Mom broke down completely, nearly collapsing if Benjamin hadn't caught her in time.

As I watched them holding each other for comfort, suddenly, a realization hit me.

Dad was gone, which meant that Rachel, my sister, would be coming back.