• I gave another swing, with my fist pounding in a continual rhythm against the door. I thought for sure at any second my fist would make a hole through the door. I stepped back for a second waiting to see if my tantrums would be heard. I glanced at the residential house and saw that the lights were still off, and that it was still dark inside; deceiving that no one was home, but I knew better the car in the driveway to my left was proof of that much, and besides it was three o’clock in the morning so I knew the occupants were inside, but they were trying to ignore me.
    Knowing this fact only irritated me even more. Blindly I threw both my fist against the front door and I began my heartbeat rhythm of pounding again. “I know you’re in there,” I yelled. This time, finally, the lights came on inside, and I could hear the rattling of the locks being unlocked.

    “You son of b-,” I yelled just as the front door swung open.

    “What the heck do you think you’re doing,” shouted Mr. Cassidy. He stepped out in his coat and sneakers, I could see the shadows of his daughter Megan lurking behind him. She was dressed in her pajamas with her hands tucked inside the pockets of her robe and her hair a tangled mess around her face; her eyes were bloodshot red. I felt a twinge of guilt for having to pull her into this.

    “You had no right,” I shouted back at her father, “None.”

    “It was my right to do what I believe was best,” he yelled back at me, “I am her power of attorney, her legal guardian, so don’t you dare show up here and cause a ruckus, or I will call the police.”

    “She is my fiancée,” I screamed, “I had as much right as you.”

    “She is nothing of the sort, she is my daughter, and I far as the law is concerned-,”

    “You don’t throw that legal crap with me,” I spoke vehemently, “you still should have consulted with me, I am just as important to her as you are.”

    “I don’t have time for this,” turning to Megan, “call the police, let them handle this.” He said over his shoulder.

    A neighboring house to my left light came on and a middle aged women stepped out in her coat and slippers. “Is everything okay Johnathan,” she asked Mr. Cassidy.

    Stepping farther onto the porch coming closer to the left of me he raised his hand in assurance, “Everything is fine Joyce just a little late night chat that’s all no need to worry.” She nodded, but hesitated before stepping back inside squinting her eyes in the dark of the night to make out my face, just in case she needed to call the police I assumed. Megan had yet to listen to her father and leave and call the police, he to noticed this and didn’t bother asking her again instead he turned to me seething with anger.

    “Now, seeing how late it is I think it would be best if you just leave now.” He said chillingly, mimicking the coolness of the night air.

    “Mr. Cassidy, I love your daughter with all my heart, I didn’t come here to fight with you, all I want is to have a say in what happens with her now.” I said my layered with tears.

    “There is nothing you need to have a say in; she’s dead” he yelled, “My daughter is dead, what more is there that you need to say.”

    “She isn’t dead, she is just in a coma I want to have a say into whether or not she should be taken off life support,” I cried out, “I just- no- I need to be a part of this please don’t shut me out, she is just as important to me as she is to you.”

    With a heavy sigh he turned to the entrance of the front door, “What happens to my daughter should be of no concern of yours, it will be taken care by the people that matter most to her.”

    I shook my head as if to shake off the acidity of his words. “So are you saying that-,” taking a deep breath I continued, “-that I mean nothing to her.” My eyes began to sting, “That’s not true and you know it, just as much as I do, all that I am asking is that I that I get to have a say into whether or not she should be taken of life support and that I get to be there by her side, just give me that much, that’s all I’m asking please….” I said softly my voice breaking.

    “I will not be allowing,” he said, “you---.”

    “Please-,” I said softly.

    “This is a decision that was left up to her legal guardian, like I said this doesn’t involve you.”

    Taking I deep breath, I stated, “If you won’t allow me to have a say in a decision that involves me just as much as it involves you, or to see her, I will have no choice, but to file a lawsuit against you. You cannot keep me out of this; as a lawyer I know my rights.”

    “It is late, and I think its best that you leave now, I won’t call the police, but if you continue being uncooperative I will have no choice then to notify the authorities.” He continued as if I hadn’t said anything. Megan hadn’t spoken a word she moved to the side to let her father in. Stepping inside the house, he turned reaching for the door knob and give me one last glance he shut the door.

    Walking up to the closed door I rested my head against it speaking I knew that they could still hear me, “She’s all I have, please….please…don’t shut me out of what is left of her, she means everything to me.”

    All that I could hear was the rattling of the locks being put back into place.
    Standing there for another minute or so I made my way off the porch following driveway to the curb where my car was parked, I took a glance at the house, the lights had been turned off. With one last look at the house, I unlocked my car and slid in the front seat and shut the door. Looking at myself in the rearview mirror I was shocked to see that I had tears on my face, it’s not often that I cried about things, but ever since the past couple of days, I have been feeling unhinged.
    Wiping my eyes I couldn’t keep up with the rain of tears that cascaded down my face, after another second I stopped trying. Taking a deep shaky breathe. I started the car and switched the gears quickly accelerating not caring where I was going… All I knew was that this was not going to end without a fight.