Ninety-nine Stars, My Dad's Final Beep

The day my dad was in critical condition, my girlfriend, Leighton, was at a luxury hotel celebrating her childhood friend Jaxon's birthday.

I called her a dozen times before she finally picked up.

"Leighton, Dad keeps calling for you. Can you please come and see him?" I pleaded.

She sounded incredibly impatient. "I just saw him yesterday, and now he's suddenly dying? Is he going to be dead tomorrow, then?"

"Stop being so dramatic. This is the 99th paper star I'm folding for him. I'll be back