"Hello?"

"Ettinnette?"

"Lukas? You okay? You sound like you're crying."

"Baba's in the hospital, Nette. Malik won't tell me anything, but I'm scared."

"What??"

---

"Daddy, I really don't wanna go to school," 14-year-old Ettinnette said to her father, who gave her a look. "Your mother would simply kill me," he said as she smacked her teeth. "Baba, it can be our secret! She don't gotta know," she laughed as a tiny groan escaped from her father's lips, making her brown eyes dart to him. "Daddy? Something wrong?" she said, inspecting his state from where she stood as he shook his head. "No, bourdon. Grab your bag so we can go," he said as she gave him an unsure look before starting to retreat up the stairs begrudgingly when she heard a thud.

"Baba?"

---

"What room is Antoine Dumont in?" Ettinnette asked worriedly, using her eyes to search the premises for any sign of her father as the nurse in front of her gave her a tired look. "Who're you to the patient?" she replied in annoyance as Ettinnette gave her a weirded-out look. "His daughter. Can you tell me where the fucking room is?" she said as the nurse smacked her teeth, not responding. "Davina?" the Trinidad girl called out, making Ettinnette turn around. "Maman," she breathed in relief, rushing to hug her as the nurse rolled her eyes at the interaction.

"Mommy, what's going on? What's happening with Baba?" she asked as her mother's face dimmed more. "It came back, my love," she whispered, making Ettinnette's face drop. "When?" she asked in a hushed voice as her eyes started to cloud with hot tears. "Last year Thanksgiving," her mother answered ashamedly, as Ettinnette's eyes widened. "What?! Why didn't you tell us?!" she questioned her mother as her mother's brows furrowed. "I told—Ettinnette?" Malik said, interrupting her mother.

Ettinnette turned to see her older brother, his face pale and eyes red from crying. "Malik, what's going on? How bad is it?" she asked, fear evident in her voice. Malik took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "What're you doing here? Don't you have—I don't give a fuck about that. Is daddy okay?" she asked, interrupting him as he sighed. "They're running tests, but it doesn't look good," he said trying to keep his voice steady for his mother and sister's sake.

"Where is he?" Ettinnette asked, her voice steadying. Malik pointed down the hallway. "Room 104. The doctors are in there with him now. They said we could go in once they're done," he explained as Ettinnette pushed down whatever she was feeling.

What was this horrible feeling in her stomach?

"Baba," Ettinnette said softly, taking her father's hand as she rushed to his side, briefly glancing at her little brother drifting in and out of sleep on the chair by the door. He smiled weakly at her, his eyes filled with love and pain. "My beautiful bourdon," he whispered. Ettinnette squeezed his hand, trying to hold back her tears. "I'm here, Baba. I'm so sorry for not being here," she said, her voice shaking.

Her father shook his head, waving the whole thing off, his eyes closing briefly as if the effort to stay awake was too much. "I'm so immensely proud of you, ma fille. You've grown into such a strong, beautiful woman," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Ettinnette's heart broke at the sight of him so weak, but she forced a smile nodding because as of lately she had felt anything but strong. And this situation made her feel utterly...

Useless.

Ettinnette wiped at her tired face as Lukas and her mother slept on the chairs, leaning on each other. She glanced at her father's heart monitor every once in a while as he slept, making sure nothing was out of the ordinary when Malik walked in with snacks (specifically chocolate-covered pretzels for her). He motioned to the door, implying that he wanted to talk as she complied but not before stealing a small glance at her father again before leaving the room.

"You okay?" he asked as soon as they closed the door of the hospital room. She gave him a knowing look as she ripped open her pack of pretzels. "I just wished she would've told us sooner. We could've helped, y'know?" she said, interrupting the silence between them, making Malik stiffen before he hesitantly nodded. She gave him a look as he avoided her eyes.

Um...huh?

Ettinnette gave him a look as he avoided her eyes. "Malik, what aren't you telling me?" she demanded, her frustration mounting. Malik sighed heavily, leaning against the wall. "I knew," he admitted quietly. Ettinnette's eyes widened in shock. "Since when?" she said in a strained voice as his face dipped in more shame.

He looked at her, guilt etched on his face. "Since the diagnosis," he muttered as anger started to course through Nette. "So, you both decided to keep us in the dark? How could you do that, Malik? We had a right to know!"

"We didn't want to worry you!" he shouted back as she laughed an angry chuckle. "Worry me? What if I didn't make it?! What if Lukas didn't tell me and I didn't get a chance to see him at all?" she shouted at him as he slightly winced at the pain in her voice.

"Etti—Leave me alone," she said, leaving him alone in the silent and empty hallway.

"Ma fille," Aintoine whispered, his voice weak but filled with warmth as Ettinnette sprinted up darting her attention at her father, "Yes Baba, do you need me to call anyone," Ettinnette said softly, squeezing his hand gently. Antoine smiled weakly, his eyes filled with pride. "No, I just wanted to look at you. My sweet bumblebee, My strength."

She smiled wiping at her eyes clasping his head quietly. Antoine took a deep breath, his hand trembling slightly. "I want you to know that no matter what happens, you and your brothers need to look out for each other. Take care of your mother. Stay strong even if I'm not here." Ettinnette shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "Daddy don't talk like that. It's not your time you're gonna get better." she said making him shake his head kissing her knuckle.

"I'm content with the time I had bourdon. You can let me go now" he said making a tiny sob escape her lips. "Daddy, no. You can't leave yet" she begged her father through tired eyes as he let a small smile play on his lips. "I'm so proud of you,chérie. You and your brothers will forever stay my greatest accomplishment" He whispered as her jaw shook with tears.

"I love you, Daddy. Always," she said, her voice breaking. Antoine's eyes closed slowly, his grip on her hand loosening. Ettinnette felt the weight of the moment, the finality of it, as her father's breaths became shallower. "Baba?" She asked as the room seemed to close in on her, the beeping of the heart monitor slowing. "Nurse?!" She ran to get someone as the unforgettable noise of a flatline echoed in her ear. She didn't hear anything else as it rang not noticing people rushing in and out of her father's room or her mother's cries. She watched the sight with an almost numb expression feeling nothing as her eyes spotted the one thing she had been craving for so long. She smiled snatching it from where it stood and quietly walking into a bathroom lighting it. Once the hot fire touched her skin she let out a sigh of relief feeling the happiest she had been in a while while trying to describe the newfound feeling she had.

Euphoria

A/N

I should rlly fuck around and end it like this ngl

js playing i wouldn't do that to yall 😭😭

Anywayssssss 

i went to this waterpark with my siblings and this one guy was flirting with me and he was fineeeee

I shou;d've given him my insta OMGGGG

but also the presidential election is fuckeddddd

Trump is so winning like there's no saving us

EDIT: Antoine got lung cancer. that's what i came back

plus ettinnette's middle name is davina so if anyone is saying that name js know it's our hg

BUT BACK TO THE OG A/N

hruuuuu???

any comments or suggestions???

I love you guysss