Every single day after school, Theo drove straight to the hospital.
He did his homework at the little table next to Jack’s bed. Chemistry. Calculus. Essays on The Great Gatsby.
When Jack was too sick to do his own homework, Theo did it with him. Reading the questions out loud. Writing down Jack’s answers when Jack’s hands were too shaky to hold a pencil.
They watched hundreds of movies on Theo’s laptop. Every terrible horror movie ever made. Jack kept a ranked list on the whiteboard in his hospital room. “Best Worst Movies of All Time.” The nurses started adding their own suggestions.
When the chemo made Jack so sick he couldn’t keep anything down, Theo sat on the floor next to the bed with a cold washcloth. For hours.
When Jack’s hair started falling out in clumps, Theo went to a barber that same night and shaved his own head.
He came in the next morning bald as a cue ball.
“What did you do?” Jack said.
“I’ve always wanted to know what shape my head was,” Theo said. “Turns out it’s weird. Like a lumpy potato.”
Jack laughed until the nurse came in to check his monitors.
There were days Jack barely spoke at all. Days the pain medicine made him foggy and sad.
And there were nights he talked and talked and talked until two in the morning. About anything. About everything. Because the silence scared him.
Theo stayed for all of it.
Some weeks, I’m ashamed to say, Theo spent more hours beside my son than Daniel or I did. Because we were working. Because we had to.
I’d come in at seven in the morning after a night of sleeping in the hospital parent lounge, and Theo would be asleep in the chair next to Jack’s bed. Still in his school clothes. His textbook open on his chest.
I’d cover him with a blanket. I never woke him.
He never once complained.
Not one time in fourteen months.
That’s why I couldn’t understand what I was seeing at the funeral.
That’s why it hurt so badly.
Of all the people in that chapel, Theo was the last one I ever expected to embarrass my son.
Sophia Rivers is an experienced News Content Editor with a sharp eye for detail and a passion for delivering accurate and engaging news stories. At TheArchivists, she specializes in curating, editing, and presenting news content that informs and resonates with a global audience.
Sophia holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Toronto, where she developed her skills in news reporting, media ethics, and digital journalism. Her expertise lies in identifying key stories, crafting compelling narratives, and ensuring journalistic integrity in every piece she edits.
Known for her precision and dedication to the truth, Sophia thrives in the fast-paced world of news editing. At TheArchivists, she focuses on producing high-quality news content that keeps readers informed while maintaining a balanced and insightful perspective.
With a commitment to delivering impactful journalism, Sophia is passionate about bringing clarity to complex issues and amplifying voices that matter. Her work reflects her belief in the power of news to shape conversations and inspire change.