Gone

By Folc4evernaday (folc4evernaday@gmail.com)

Rated: PG

Submitted: August 2019

Summary: In honor of Eddie Jones' passing July 8th, 2019. Clark
struggles to come to terms with the reality of his father's
death.

Story Size: 885 words (5Kb as text)

***

*<<"You can't risk anyone finding out about you. If they knew
you came from another planet..."*

"*But I can't hide forever. There has to be a way I can be
Clark Kent and still use what I've been given to do some
good.">>*

Clark stared down at his hands that were clenching his knees with
a grip he was sure to break something if not for his
invulnerability. He'd been sitting here for what felt like
hours, waiting for something to tell him what to do. Though he
was sure any sign to direct him had left the moment his father
had passed.

*<<"That's my boy.">>*

Gone.

The idea seemed so surreal as Clark stared at the bed where his
father's body lay motionless and lifeless, covered by a clean
white sheet.

*Take all the time you need.*

*There's no rush.*

*So sorry for your loss.*

The words felt so empty as they weighed on Clark. He wasn't sure
how to even react. He felt his mind race from thought to thought
as if it were trapped in a maze of despair and grief. He
couldn't escape it. No matter where he looked or what he did,
all he could feel was the heavy weight on his chest as the
boulder-sized lump in his throat grew greater and greater. He
should probably be crying, screaming, and yet his mind wouldn't
let him.

*<<"If there's one thing we know about you, son, it's that
anything's possible.">>*

He was in shock.

He knew it wouldn't be long before the tidal wave of grief hit
him and he would be overpowered and finally succumb to it all.

He was supposed to be saying goodbye.

Somehow sitting in this tiny room with his father's body was
supposed to help him say goodbye. How, he wasn't sure. His dad
was gone. It wasn't like he could respond or give him the last
bit of fatherly advice.

His dad was gone.

He shot up from his seat, pacing around the room as he stared at
the white sheet that covered his father's body.

This felt wrong.

There were plans that had been made.

Tomorrows that had yet to happen with his father in them. How was
this possible? He let out an agonizing wail as he fell to the
floor, catching himself at the last second so as not to cause any
damage that couldn't be explained.

In every moment, from childhood to adulthood, his dad had carried
the burden of worrying about Clark's abilities being discovered.
As a child, he held the secret close and never told anyone. As an
adult, he became more comfortable and tested his limits, but his
father's warnings remained in the back of his mind. It wasn't
until years later after meeting Lois Lane that he considered the
possibility of sharing this secret with anyone.

It wasn't until years later when he and Lois had been blessed
with children of their own that he truly understood the agonizing
fear and worry that his father carried. The what-ifs were
endless. Even more so with a child that held special,
super-powered gifts and abilities.

Though he donned the cape and 'S', it was because of those
around him that he could. His supportive parents that encouraged
him to always do the right thing and never once made him doubt
his self-worth. His incredibly supportive wife that stood by his
side through everything. There were so many times he could have
missed out on everything if it weren't for his father pushing
him to do the right thing.

*<<"I can't do this. I'm sorry, Martha. I know we said we
wouldn't stick out noses in, but this is wrong, you can't give
up your whole life like this.">>*

*<<"Well, looks like there's only one thing you can do. Go on
the offensive. Reveal who you are. Then he'll have no power over
you.">>*

*<<"He's gone.">>*

The words cut like a knife as Clark Kent came to the realization
his world around him had been shattered forever. He heard the
words the doctor was saying but compared to his inner voice that
continued to protest in agony at the thought of losing someone
that meant so much, the doctor's voice was nothing more than a
soft whisper.

A gentle hand reached over, taking his palm in hers just as she
always had. He looked over to his wife, Lois Lane, whose
tear-stained cheeks were equally damp from the tears she had shed
over the lasts few hours.

"We were supposed to..." Clark heard his voice crack from the
strain of the grief.

Lois silently wrapped him up in her arms, understanding his
protests as she always did. He felt the slight sense of
reassurance with her by his side, facing the world around him for
the first time without the man that had taught him everything. He
could do it. He knew he could. He had been raised by Jonathan
Kent, a man that had taught him to face his troubles head on and
never back down. He wasn't about to back down now.

THE END