The Man Who Stopped Time, a Short Story

"Mr. Whibley. I think it's time to call it."

The man started to sob uncontrollably when the doctor turned to him and said that it is time. He broke down and collapsed on top of the bed where his son was lying motionless with several tubes and apparatus attached to his body.

"I am sorry. We did everything that we could. His brain is still functioning. He may be able to still hear you. If there's anything you wanted to say to him. This may be your last chance." the doctor continued and the man only cried harder.

Ethan was confused. He couldn't move from what he was witnessing. It was his father crying on top of another man. The doctor was telling him some things that were nonsense to him. He paced towards his sobbing father and he was shocked when he tried to touch him. He couldn't. His hand passed through his father's shoulder. As his sight stumbled onto the dying man, his whole body shivered and tears ran from his eyes. It was a man who looked exactly just like him. It was a man dying in front of him, it was him.

Upon seeing himself on his death bed, the memories came rushing into his head. He was reminded of what happened to him and why he was laying lifeless on this bed.

All he could remember was a whole night of drinking and popping a variety of pills, dancing and he was halted with a severe stabbing pain in the chest.

He was just about to graduate from college and with honors at that. One night of fun, he just wanted to try what he was "missing out" and he paid for it dearly. At that moment, his life began to flash in front of him. The scenes started from the day that he was born. He could see how happy his father and mother were. He was the bringer of joy to their little family. The scenes changed to his middle school. Without a care in the world and his only concern was to play. His daddy taught him how to play catch but careful enough not to tire him too much. His heart was from the very beginning a little bit too fragile for a growing kid.

Transitioning to middle school, he can see her mother trying to talk about him with awkward subjects like taking a fancy with the girls. Those happy moments that he wished he could hold dear forever. He felt his heart tightening and on top of his transparent lungs he shouted "STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!"

He panted after he screamed and as he opened up his eyes the scenery was the same save for a particular detail. Everything seemed to be inanimate. He saw his father's face grief-stricken, hurt, in pain but the tears are frozen. He looked at the doctor and the nurse, all the same, they were not even blinking.

He tried to touch his father and he was surprised as he could do it. He bolted out the door and no matter where he set his eyes on, everything was the same, everything and everyone was still.

Out in the streets, he was walking aimlessly and pretty much disoriented. The cars, the pedestrians, even the birds above the sky, they are all stuck in a fixed position. He ran and ran. It's all he could do and he found himself in front of their house. The only place that he felt safe, he felt comfortable and he felt home. It's just him and his dad but he felt complete.

He knew how hard his father tried to provide for him even if he was alone in raising him ever since his mother died a couple of years ago. His father has shown him true strength and even though he occasionally catch him crying whenever he misses his wife, he knew that he could depend on him any time and any way.

Sitting down in front of their porch he made up his mind, he made his peace with everything, he was ready to go. He found himself back in the hospital in the same distressing position where he left them.

He knelt down next to his dad and gave him a hug for one last time. He held on with his eyes closed choosing not to let go as long as he could. Moments passed and everything, including his pains faded away in a smile.

Gradually opening his eyes, the bright light seeps into his eyeballs. He winced, blinked and closed them again. More slowly this time he opened them and as soon as his vision returned he slightly moved his head to the side. The doctor entered and checked his vitals. He could see the doctor nodding and seemingly satisfied to what he was seeing on the board.

"Welcome back Mr. Whibley. How are you feeling?"

"I... I feel fine."

"You should try to rest more. I'll come back to check with you again."

And he was gone behind the door.

He felt himself dozing off again.

Ethan woke up again in a day and a half and he was feeling strong enough to get up. He sat down on the bed and the nurse immediately ran out to fetch the doctor.

He looked around and outside of the window. He was fine, he felt glad that he was. He's relieved that he would not see his father suffer because of him anymore. And he wondered where his dad went.

The doctor came and checked his vitals again. "All good. You can be discharged tomorrow."

"Where's my dad?"

The smile on the doctor's face suddenly went away, it was replaced by a grim look that he was sure he does not like.

"Ethan, with the damage done to your heart, it was beyond the reach of repairs. You needed a transplant on the spot if you were able to survive. Your father insisted on one but finding a match will be impossible in that short span of time."

"Doc. Where's my father!?" he asked voice raised and tears falling.

"He insisted that we take his. But I told him we can not do that. We can only harvest from the dead, and we are not even sure if his was a match."

"What are you telling me?!"

"Let us just say that we are fortunate that you two are a match. Your father loves you so much. And I think, by now, you know and you can feel that."

Ethan placed his hands on his chest and bawled. "Daaaaaad!!"

Hey there!

Thank you for reading this one. Happy father's day to all the fathers out there. You are all the soldiers of your own house and I salute all of you outstanding dads.

To all of you, I raise my glass,

Cheers!!!

Reference:

Lead Image : https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/businessman-stopped.html