"Hi dad," I say. The sound of the beeping heart monitor interrupts the eerie silence of my dad's ICU room here at the New Jersey General Hospital. The room looks clean but old, and well worn. It's probably had thousands of patients within its walls, and been scrubbed down thousands of times after each patient went home… or never got the chance to.

My dad lies under the white sheets, his cheek resting on the pillow beneath his head. He's only 57, but he looks so frail and old right now. I hate to see him like this.

The doctors thought that his case would be open-and-shut as far as cancer goes. They predicted a 90% chance of remission within six months.

But for some unfair reason, my dad fell into that unlucky 10%, and he kept getting worse instead of better. Now, I don't even know what's going to happen. I just try to come down here every week to visit him and keep his spirits up.

Fuck cancer.

My dad's eyes slowly open, and he grins when he sees me. A rare flash of his old self comes through.

"Hey there, Leelee," he says, using the pet name he's always used for me since I was a child. "Looking good. Give your dear old dad a pat on the back for doing such a good job."

I can't help grinning, and I bend down to give him a hug. I pull up a chair from the corner of the room and sit down with him.

"How was your week, Dad?" I ask.

"Oh, good. The nurses in this place are fine as all hell."

I blush and can't help laughing. "Dad! I hope you don't say that to their faces."

He groans. "Sorry. I meant that in a completely professional way, obviously."

"Obviously."

"I'm fine. Chemo is kicking my ass as always, but the docs think this latest round is going to turn the tide."

"I sure hope so."

"Enough about me, though, how's my princess?"

My dad and I chat about my contract, Aya, my meeting with my editor, and everything else happening in my life right now.

"Leah," he says, grabbing onto my hand. I know that every time he does that, it means he's about to say something serious. "There's something I want to mention to you."

"Okay," I say. "Anything."

"If this whole thing with the chemotherapy doesn't end up working out—"

"Dad!" I exclaim, interrupting him. "It's going to work out. Don't say things like that."

"Right," he says, "I'm sure it's going to be fine. But listen. You're the most important thing to me in this world, and I want you to know that. I want you to be taken care of if I'm no longer around."

I'm not going to do it, I'm not going to cry in front of my dad. "Stop chopping onions in here," I say to him, trying to keep my composure.

He smiles. "For real, I'm a tough old bastard and you know that. I also know you can take care of yourself. But just promise me that you'll find a good man to spend your life with. Someone who treats you right and will take care of you."

"I'll… do my best," I say. It isn't the first time my dad has brought this up with me. But I don't really like talking about it. It's another layer of pressure on my already-difficult dating life, and especially in the current circumstance, it's just stressful all around.

I think about Luke. It would make my dad happy if I told him I just went on a date, but honestly, what would I even say about it? That I went out with the billionaire who owns the company I'm working for now, and it could be a huge scandal that blows up in my face? I don't feel like I can mention it to him until I know Luke better.

He smiles. "Don't end up like me and your mom, divorced. Find someone who will stick with you and who you can raise a family with."

"That's a lot to take in, dad, but I hear you." I give his hand a squeeze, and I think about what he said. My mom is long gone, out of the picture. I definitely don't want to end up like that. When my dad is gone, I'll have no one left. No close family members, anyway. I'm a single child.

I think about Luke again. Maybe I should mention something. If for no other reason than I know it would make my dad happy.

"Hey," I say, "I might actually have an update on the dating front soon."

His eyes perk up. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. But nothing concrete yet. I'll let you know."

He looks happier already. "Sounds good."

"Hey," he adds, "Can you call one of those nurses in here?" He grins. "It's time for my sponge bath."

I grin and shake my head.