[A Year and A Half Ago]
"Hello? Helloooo?"
Mac enters his home after a long January afternoon of playing basketball with David and Jesse. Even though it is the college semester, Mac is choosing to go for the flex courses so he could spend more time at home to clear his head and get a refresher. Locking the front door as he steps in, he looks around the house... the atmosphere it generates makes it seem empty. He calls out again "Anybody home? Mom? Dad? Anybody?"
Walking towards the kitchen, Mac gulps down the last of his Essentia water and places the empty plastic bottle into the recycle bin. He washes his hands at the kitchen counter, and finally makes his way upstairs. "Guys, are you home?" He calls out once more, but to no avail. "Guess they're out..." he says in acceptance, and finally makes his way at the top of the stairs.
He walks towards his parents' bedroom just to be completely sure, and peeks inside. Nothing. Mac shrugs it off, and makes his way towards his own bedroom. He is ready to relax and maybe get a nap in. As he opens his door, he spots a male figure with his back turned against him sitting on his bed. "The hell?" Mac blurts out, but notices the figure... "... Dad? What are you doing in here...?"
Stanley, Mac's father, is sitting on his bed. He turns around, and looks to face Mac. "Hey, son..."
Mac notices his father's eyes are red and puffy, and a concerned feeling overtakes him. "Dad... dad, have you been crying? What's going on?"
Stanley shakes his head, but begins to sniffle, saying "I... I've failed you, son... I failed you as a father."
"Dad... Dad what are you talking about?"
"Look, Mackenzie... I know... I know I've done some dumb shit in the past. I'm aware that I fucked up big time with your mother. BIG time. I'm not going to sit here and try to justify that. I screwed up with you guys. I failed you."
Mac sits down next to his Stanley, and says "Dad... look... everyone makes mistakes, ok? But it's how we handle them that define who we are as people. How we can rise up and learn from those mistakes, you know?"
"Well... I think I learned too little, too late, son..." Stanley reaches out into his back pocket, and pulls out a envelope. "I got home this morning after my night shift, and checked the mail... and this came in today..."
Mac takes the envelope Stanley offers him, and opens it up. Stanley inhales sharply, and softly says "Ow..." Mac looks up and asks "You alright, Dad?" Stanley nods, and replies "Yeah, yeah, I'm good... just had a little pain in my arm, no biggie. Think I pulled something, heh."
"Probably just stress. I'm taking you to the gym tomorrow." Mac quips, and finally pulls out the document in the envelope. He takes a look at it, and softly gasps. Looking back at his father, he says "This... These are divorce papers, Dad..."
Stanley nods, and says to his son "Yeah... Jessica finally had enough, it seems. Even though I haven't did anything since 2015. I mean, I assured her I was a changed man. I've been going to counseling like she wanted me to. I even took anger management to help with my issues on that. I've done everything I could to turn my life around for her. For you. For the both of you."
"Dad, I-I know... I just think Mom is wor--"
"I just don't understand it, Mackenzie! I don't get it! I promised her I'd never cheat on her again. I promised her I would never hit her again. And I haven't since! You have to believe me, son."
"I do, Dad. Trust me, I do. But you have to understand... you have to put yourself in mom's perspective... she's had enough, I think."
"Then why didn't she just talk to me about it first? This came out of nowhere."
"Just relax, Dad. I can talk to Mom, and we can tr--"
"I fucking failed you, son. I'm a failure. I'm a fucking screw-up!" Stanley says as he begins to cry, standing off of Mac's bed. Mac gets up, watching his father begin to leave the bedroom. "Dad, where are you going?" Stanley sobs, making his way towards the stairs. "Dad, wait, don't go! We can talk this out! I'll call Mom and we can all just talk this out!" Mac shouts at his father, watching him go towards the edge of the stairs.
"Don't worry about this, son. It's meant to be. Me and your mother... we're done... it's over."
"Dad, don't talk like that, please! You guys love each other! I love you, Dad! Mom loves you!"
"I failed you, son!"
"Dad, please! You didn't fail me, ok? I'm still here! I'm still here for you!" Mac says as a tear begins to pour down his right eye. "Come on, Dad, please! Let me call Mom and we can just talk this out..."
"Son... son, I... ow... ow... my heart hurts for her..."
"Come on, Dad, let me just call her and things will be alr--"
Stanley begins to clutch his chest "Uuugh... my... my heart... hurts..."
Mac looks at his father, and softly says "Dad... Dad, are you ok?"
Stanley closes his eyes tightly, and grabs his chest with both of his hands. He grunts out in agony "Heart... atta... ataaaghhhh!"
"DAD!" Mac yells as he rushes towards his father. Stanley yells in pain as he collapses backwards... head first down the stairs. "NO, DAD!!" Mac cries out, running as fast as he can to reach his father as Stanley tumbles down the stairs. When he reaches the bottom, a subtle *