I'm the Last One That You'll Ever Remember

Twins.

It was late at night, and Frank couldn’t sleep. His mind was racing too much on the information he had received a few hours ago. He was having twins, which was more than one baby. He couldn’t wrap his mind around it, but now that he was sitting in a hospital bed with nothing but the hallway light shining through the window of the door, he knew he had to face it. He watched the hospital staff pass by his room as he thought about the events of today. His parents had freaked when they found out there was not one, but two parasites inside of him, and were worried that Frank would change his mind about getting the abortion, but he hadn’t. They were both relieved by this, and because his mother couldn’t stay with him throughout the night, she sought to make him as comfortable as she could by giving him the best hospital room in the entire building. If it wasn’t for the hospital bed and equipment, no one would ever guess they were in a hospital. Since Frank’s father was a doctor, he was allowed to stay overnight at the hospital. He spent most of his time working on his paperwork, and occasionally make his hourly rounds to check up on him. Frank had a feeling his dad was more nervous than he was about his operation.

In hindsight, Frank hadn’t planned on changing his mind about this abortion, in fact, he couldn’t wait for the day to come where he could finally be rid of babies he carried. But now that he was lying on his side and watching the random staff workers pass by his door in the dead of night, he was beginning to wish time would just slow down for a couple of hours so he could really think things over again. His feelings to get this abortion over with was becoming doubtful, and he was now questioning if this was a decision he REALLY wanted to make.

Twins.

Realistically everyone in this hospital, patient or employee, have once been a fetus too. Instead of aborting them, their parents chose to give them life, and now look at what they’ve become, they’re nurses and doctors trying to save lives every day. Was that really such a bad choice for their parents to make in the end? Did they find themselves regretting not having an abortion, or were they proud of their decision to give their child a chance?

Frank ran his hand over his bump absentmindedly as he continued to ponder some more. What kind of people would these kids grow up to be if he decided against getting the operation? Would they be doctors too like their grandfather, or lawyers like their grandmother? Frank couldn’t help but smile at the thought of his loving parents and how supportive they’ve been through everything that had happened to him thus far. They weren’t disgusted by his pregnancy or what he went through being kidnapped, in their eyes he was still the same Frankie, their only child. He couldn’t ask for better parents, and wouldn’t change them for the world.

A frown came to his face as he wondered what his life would have been like if his grandparents on either side of his family had gotten rid of his parents when they were fetuses, and what kind of life he would have been born into then? Would he have been the son of a crack addict, or an abusive drunk? The idea made him shudder in fear. He wouldn’t have wanted to live a life like that, nor would he wish that on his twins, despite who their other father was.

Twins.

Frank let out a groan and sat up in bed since he couldn’t find sleep. Reaching over to his lamp, he turned the dial up to bring some light into the room, but only a small amount of it. Frank had been ready and waiting for this procedure to happen for a long time, but now that he was forced to wait 24 hours to get it…he wasn’t so certain about going through with it anymore. At the same time, he also didn’t want to be a parent at 15 year olds there was no doubt in his mind where that was concerned, but KILLING the things? Was that okay to do to a small growing life, or was it terrible? Was it wrong or right? When the time finally came for them to slice him open, would he REALLY be able to go through with it or would he call the whole thing off?

He had no choice. He had to go through with it. He’s already gotten this far, after all. He can’t turn his back now. He can’t. He won’t.

The sound of his doorknob jiggling snapped Frank’s attention back to reality. He turned his head to see his father poking his head through the crack of the door. “Frankie, what are you still doing up? You need to get some sleep, son, tomorrow is going to be a big day, and you’re gonna need all the rest you can get.”

If there was anyone that Frank could talk to in this hospital about his inner turmoil, it would be his father. “I know dad, I’ve been trying to, but…I have a lot on my mind about the procedure, and these…things, inside of me.”

Fearing that his son was having second thoughts about the abortion, Frank Sr. stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. He took the closest chair by his son’s bed, and sat in it. Reaching over to the lamp’s tiny dial, he turned it some more until the dimness increased into a brightness that illuminated the room to a more comfortable level, but not enough to burn Frank’s eyes out. “What’s going on with you, son? Are you getting cold feet on me about this abortion?”

Frank shrugged as his hands came to rest over his stomach absentmindedly. He lowered his head in shame, not wanting his dad to see the truth behind his eyes. “N-no, it’s just…I don’t know. How do I know if I’m doing the right thing, dad? I mean, these are lives growing inside me. Individual lives that might one day find the cure for cancer, or end world hunger!”

His father sent him a glare of pure hatred. “Or they could become the same kind of monster that kidnapped you and put them there in the first place!”

Feeling his eyes welling up with tears as the memories his father provoked to the surface flashed before his eyes, Frank turned his eyes away to stare at the areas in his room that were smothered in darkness instead. He didn’t want to think about those dark times at the moment. “D-dad, please…”

Frank Sr. took a deep breathe to simmer his anger down. “Look I’m sorry, Frankie. I didn’t mean to raise my voice like that, it’s just…I really think you should take this opportunity in order to move on with your life more easily. If you keep these…things, they could possibly grow up to be the very same monsters that put them inside you in the first place.” He gestured to his son’s stomach. “I don’t think it’s wise to keep them. They will be a daily reminder to you of what happened, which will make it even harder for you to move on. Everyday you’ll have to wake up to that same feeling that you maybe could’ve done something to prevent this traumatic experience from ever happening in the first. You could have stayed home, and passed out candy, or you could have escaped his lair somehow. Yo-”

“Daddy?” Frank interrupted him with a look of confusion on his face. “Are you talking about me regretting giving them a chance to live, or are you talking about yourself regretting giving them a chance to live?”

Frank Sr. let out a sigh before he rubbed his weary face in humiliation. “Shit…I’m sorry, son. I got a little carried away there for a minute.”

“That’s okay and everything, but…is that really how you feel? Is that why you really want me to get this abortion so bad, because they’ll be a reminder to you of what happened to me?” Frank asked him as he watched his stressed out father with concern in his big eyes.

Frank Sr. didn’t want to admit something as terrible as that to his son, but it was the truth. Closing his eyes for a minute in guilt, he gave his son a confirming nod that he had indeed felt that way this whole time. Frank gave his father a sympathetic smile. “Dad, there was nothing anyone could do. It’s not your fault, you have to know that. You were home with mommy, and I was out camping. There was no way you could have gotten there in time even if you knew.”

His father barely nodded as he crossed his arms over his big chest. “Yeah, trust me I know. Your mother doesn’t give me a break about that every time she sees me, but it just doesn’t seem to help. I can’t stand the thought that that happened to you and I…” He took a minute to contain his emotions before they could rise up to the surface and embarrass him again. “I couldn’t save you. I hate that that man is still out there, probably assaulting another man’s child. I especially HATE that he left you a parting gift goodbye in the form of twins! It’s just become a big slap to the face for me every time it’s brought up.”

“I understand that dad, but how is that their fault? Like Aunt Edith said-” His father let out a dramatic groan at the mention of his wife’s sister. “-it’s not the baby’s fault. They didn’t ask for this.”

“So, you’re listening to your aunt now, huh?” Frank Sr. asked his son with an amused smile.

Frank couldn’t help, but chuckle himself at the thought. “As strange as it may seem, yeah. But hey, there’s a first time for everything, right?”

“I suppose.” His father replied with a laugh of his own. “So…are you saying you want me to cancel the abortion tomorrow?”

“NO!” Frank exclaimed too quickly. “It’s just…I don’t know. I’m not sure what I want right now.”

“Why don’t you try to get some rest, and we’ll talk in the morning about it.” His father suggested as he stood up from his chair.

Frank nodded. “Okay, that’s sounds good. Goodnight, dad.”

“Goodnight, Frankie.” His father gave him a kiss on his head. “Lamp on or off?”

“On, please.” Frank answered as he sunk back down under his blanket.

“On it is. See you tomorrow, kiddo.” His father whispered as he left to return to his office.