previously: 12 months to live
warnings: cancer, death
Jack Phoenix lived a pretty ordinary life. His brother caused all the drama that people talked about in their family. In fact, when all added up, Hayden had probably caused their parents enough stress for the both of them combined, so Jack felt it was his duty to be the stable twin.
His family was comfortable while remaining humble. He lived in a beautiful suburban home with his beautiful wife and three beautiful children. He built a treehouse for his kids in the backyard. He was a scout club leader on Saturday mornings. He had a job that fulfilled him and a rich network of friends. And his dad was dying.
It was early, but not remarkably so. Micah had enjoyed his retirement for a few years—not as many years as he hoped. He met his grandchildren, but he didn’t get to spend as many years with them as he hoped. No matter how early or late, would it ever be enough time?
It happened slow for a while, and fast in the end. Micah learned the news of his terminal condition last summer, and he waited until the fall to tell his family. The first months felt so surreal for them all. They didn’t understand it, since he looked the same as ever, healthy as ever. They were sure the doctors were wrong. He would live longer than twelve months, they were sure of it.
Micah was far too humble, having spent the bulk of his middle age caring for his family. Jack could blame his brother for being so messy for so long, but that wouldn't help their situation. There was no way to turn back the clocks.
Jack Phoenix lived a pretty ordinary life. His brother caused all the drama that people talked about in their family. In fact, when all added up, Hayden had probably caused their parents enough stress for the both of them combined, so Jack felt it was his duty to be the stable twin.
The biggest stir Jack ever caused was dumping his high school girlfriend in his sophomore year of college. He had met the woman who would become his wife, whom he married and remained happily married to for all their years since. He didn’t become a pro sports star after high school and became a cop instead. Like his father, like any other number of thousands of men just like him. Like it was a Phoenix family tradition to aspire to greatness and fall just short. They were family people, hard-working people, and their family was strong.
His family was comfortable while remaining humble. He lived in a beautiful suburban home with his beautiful wife and three beautiful children. He built a treehouse for his kids in the backyard. He was a scout club leader on Saturday mornings. He had a job that fulfilled him and a rich network of friends. And his dad was dying.
It happened slow for a while, and fast in the end. Micah learned the news of his terminal condition last summer, and he waited until the fall to tell his family. The first months felt so surreal for them all. They didn’t understand it, since he looked the same as ever, healthy as ever. They were sure the doctors were wrong. He would live longer than twelve months, they were sure of it.
Other things took priority, as life does. Jack and Hayden talked casually about putting together a little trip for their dad. He always wanted to see Brazil, or Japan, or Indonesia. He’d been basically nowhere and his bucket list was an eternity long.
They went back and forth about where, how long, how much it should cost. But soon Micah grew too tired for even walks around the neighborhood, content to sit and watch the birds. He was watching his life go by him, slipping past more rapidly now than ever.
They didn’t go soon enough, before they knew it, Micah was too sick for Brazil, and then, too sick for even Hawaii.
He would leave this life having never seen the places he dreamed of.
It happens to the best of us.
They went back and forth about where, how long, how much it should cost. But soon Micah grew too tired for even walks around the neighborhood, content to sit and watch the birds. He was watching his life go by him, slipping past more rapidly now than ever.
They didn’t go soon enough, before they knew it, Micah was too sick for Brazil, and then, too sick for even Hawaii.
He would leave this life having never seen the places he dreamed of.
It happens to the best of us.
Micah was far too humble, having spent the bulk of his middle age caring for his family. Jack could blame his brother for being so messy for so long, but that wouldn't help their situation. There was no way to turn back the clocks.
“It’s okay,” Micah told Jack. “I’m at peace with that. But you go. You see it all, whatever it is you want to see. Do what really matters. Do it now, not later. You never know when your time will run out.”
Until you finally do know, with certainty, exactly when your time will run out.
“I will, Dad,” Jack said. “I promise.”
The only thing Micah wanted now was to pass as painlessly as possible in his home, surrounded by the family he loved.
They were right about one thing. Micah Phoenix did last longer than the doctors foretold. He lived fourteen months instead of twelve.
“I will, Dad,” Jack said. “I promise.”
The only thing Micah wanted now was to pass as painlessly as possible in his home, surrounded by the family he loved.
They were right about one thing. Micah Phoenix did last longer than the doctors foretold. He lived fourteen months instead of twelve.
It happened on September 29th, 2088. He was 66 years old.
Jack felt awful for not making those trips happen sooner—when they first found out or before his dad even got sick. So many years were wasted, just sinking into their comforts between one stressful life event and the next. And it seemed their family was at no shortage of stressful life events. Being the stable twin couldn’t even stop his wife, Nessa, from having a cancer scare of her own. Life would keep throwing those curveballs, and it was so easy to fall into a rut. But what kind of life is it to sit around in complacency waiting for the next tragedy to happen?
Jack would turn forty years old in six months. It was staring him down like the barrel of a gun. Jack wasn’t sick, as far as he knew. Maybe he’d live to be ninety-five, or maybe it would be forty-five. Who ever knew?
All Jack knew was that he was ready to be an active participant in this life.
But what first? After a thoughtful run around the lake, he stumbled through the mall to buy a soda and saw a poster for mountain sports. That was as good a start as any. But before he could fly to Japan, he needed to learn how to climb.
“Welcome to Climb Club, boys! We’re going to talk about strength. We’re going to talk about focus. You might think you should feel energized or confident, but no, we’re focused on the wall. Confidence will get you killed in this sport.”
Jack felt awful for not making those trips happen sooner—when they first found out or before his dad even got sick. So many years were wasted, just sinking into their comforts between one stressful life event and the next. And it seemed their family was at no shortage of stressful life events. Being the stable twin couldn’t even stop his wife, Nessa, from having a cancer scare of her own. Life would keep throwing those curveballs, and it was so easy to fall into a rut. But what kind of life is it to sit around in complacency waiting for the next tragedy to happen?
Jack would turn forty years old in six months. It was staring him down like the barrel of a gun. Jack wasn’t sick, as far as he knew. Maybe he’d live to be ninety-five, or maybe it would be forty-five. Who ever knew?
All Jack knew was that he was ready to be an active participant in this life.
But what first? After a thoughtful run around the lake, he stumbled through the mall to buy a soda and saw a poster for mountain sports. That was as good a start as any. But before he could fly to Japan, he needed to learn how to climb.
—
“Welcome to Climb Club, boys! We’re going to talk about strength. We’re going to talk about focus. You might think you should feel energized or confident, but no, we’re focused on the wall. Confidence will get you killed in this sport.”
Maya scanned the faces of her new recruits. They differed in age by more than a decade. They differed in backgrounds, levels of experience, and fitness. Maybe they wouldn’t all make it to Komorebi in January, but she was confident she could teach them a thing or two.
“But first, we’re going to talk about proper footwear. I know you didn’t show up to my climbing class in flip-flops, Mister!”
Jack cringed. “Sorry, I’ve had a lot on my mind the past couple weeks.”
They were all fitted for climbing shoes and gear, and then Maya took them to the introductory wall.
“Alright, boys, last chance to tell me if you’re afraid of heights because this wall is the little one.”
They were all here for different reasons. Jack’s reason was that he had wrongs to right and regrets that he would take to his own grave someday. He couldn’t fix those regrets now, but he could make it to the top of Mt. Komorebi, so that when his father looked down on him from the great wherever, they would experience it together like they were meant to.
Jack cringed. “Sorry, I’ve had a lot on my mind the past couple weeks.”
They were all fitted for climbing shoes and gear, and then Maya took them to the introductory wall.
“Alright, boys, last chance to tell me if you’re afraid of heights because this wall is the little one.”
They were all here for different reasons. Jack’s reason was that he had wrongs to right and regrets that he would take to his own grave someday. He couldn’t fix those regrets now, but he could make it to the top of Mt. Komorebi, so that when his father looked down on him from the great wherever, they would experience it together like they were meant to.
— — —
Micah James Phoenix — June 14, 2022 to September 29, 2088
Micah Phoenix was born in Lakeside Heights, Michigan, to Lakeside Heights founders Jimmy and Britney Phoenix. He was born so long ago that your dear author didn’t yet know how to set her photo quality to high.
Meeting Sophie Nova was the most serendipitous thing to happen to him at the tender age of thirteen, and their longstanding love would mark one of the highlights of his sixty-six years.
The only drama they ever knew was apparently this senior prom, when Micah danced with another girl who was WEARING THE SAME DRESS. And Sophie did not like it at all.
Officially thereafter, they would be inseparable.
They went to college together and were the campus sweethearts. After college, they married and quickly started their family. (As you do in TS2 circa 2006.)
It was twins, Jackson and Hayden.
I apparently didn’t take pictures of the the twins until they were teenagers?
Poor Hayden. TS2 zits were so unforgiving!
But sweet as his children were and sometimes weren’t, the highlight of Micah’s life was his forty-year marriage to Sophie.
Their love remained as passionate through their adulthood as it was when they were teenagers. They were each other’s rocks through many challenging times. And oh, their children and grandchildren put them through some very hard times. Their marriage never faltered for a moment.
Micah spent his youth and middle-age years rising to police chief of the Lake County Police Department, marking a long career of public service to his community and his family.
Micah is survived by his loving wife Sophie, sons Jack (with Nessa) and Hayden (with Piper), and seven grandchildren: Summer, Ryanne, Aaron, Luca, Rowan, Hope, and Harper.
Aww RIP Micah. It's always sad when our sims pass, but especially the ones that were born in-game, where you've played their whole life. But this has served as a kind of bittersweet re-introduction to this family for me. I remember so many of their dramas from TS2, this feels like catching up with an old friend you haven't heard from in a while.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, this family had so much drama in the old days! Too much maybe? With these kind of ongoing stories, it can seem a bit “soap opera” if one family is burdened with trauma after trauma over the years, but I swear these guys were all down to chance (ROS and in-game) and its consequences. I’m not trying to torture them! 😂
DeleteHope you enjoyed catching up, and let’s hope their collective futures are a little more gentle to them!
RIP Micah! It was a nice send-off and even though he never got to take those trips, it's sweet that Jack has a goal of his own to reach now. Could act as a little tribute to his dad.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think I may have known Jimmy Phoenix was the founder of the Phoenix clan but is that Britney Upsnott as the matriarch? Definitely didn't know that, if so!
Yes, it is Britney Upsnott (OMG that surname, lol! I think I happily forgot what it was when she got married!) I think she definitely contributed some of this family’s very strong facial features, like the hollow cheeks and thin lips!
Delete