by Billy Wong
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They made to their old house on the outskirts of Nelson, where the nurse providing final care for their father waited. Hunter's face was badly messed up, so he told her to go to the bathroom and put on some new makeup.
"Do you need to put on makeup too?" she asked in response.
"Sure, why not. You can do mine after."
After that, they went in to visit Dad. Josh's heart sank as he took in the labored rise and fall of his father's chest under the covers and his lack of color. He really was dying. Like in a movie, Josh thought dizzily, he might go right now with the last visit of his children.
Hunter's expression remained stoic. Even now, she couldn't bring herself to feel grief for the man she thought had violated her. Their father opened his eyes, which lit up with recognition when they spotted her. He reached out for her. Thankfully she moved closer and allowed him, quite coolly, to take her hand. If he passed away right now, would that get her to react? He didn't, though, and after a moment Josh stepped forward to take his other hand. He gazed at each of their faces for a while, too weak to even speak, and eventually fell asleep, content.
"He'll be gone soon," Hunter said after, when they went to the kitchen for a snack.
He couldn't quite read her emotion. "And?"
"I don't know. I feel... odd. For so long I've been defined by my anger at him. But seeing him again I can't really feel that angry at all. I don't know what I'll do after he's dead."
"It's time to let go. What, are you considering being a tomboy again?"
"I feel a little unnatural most of the time. Maybe I shouldn't let my life be ruled by one mistake a man made, or a few."
Josh felt so glad for his sister. He wasn't sure he wanted to see her completely abandon feminine vanity though. Even if she'd adopted it to distance herself from father, he had to admit it made her look good.
