Chapter 28
(Present time)
Dianne still remains seated beside her twenty-one-year-old daughter, the only child she ever had by the man she always loved but could never be with.
“Baby…” Dianne turns to her daughter after re-living most of her life
“It all seems so…so unreal” Daniela says to her mother as her eyes burn with tears
“I know my baby”
“Why didn’t you at least tell me?” she enquires with sadness in her voice
“I wanted you to live a normal life, I didn’t want you to look at me differently, and I didn’t want the kids at school to tease you about incest”
“I’m sorry mum” she looks at her mother apologetically
“It’s okay darling” she holds her daughters hand
“So why have you decided to tell me all this now?” Daniela curiously asks
“I decided to break the silence so that you can fulfill Derricks greatest wish before he…d…died” Dianne nearly chokes on a sob at the horrible reminder
“Which is?” Daniela asks with glossy eyes. The pain of losing a favorite uncle was one thing, but to suddenly be faced with losing a father is another…
“Even though you guys were so close and spent a lot of time together, he always longed to hear you call him ‘daddy’” her voice breaks a little
Right at that moment Derricks doctor walks towards the seated two, his face is expressionless but his eyes look as if it’s bearing something negative
“Mrs. Coleman, Miss Coleman” he addresses them so formally
Mother and daughter spring to their feet immediately, their expressions are one of hope but if you reach behind them you’ll notice the worry and mourning
“How is he doctor?” Daniela asks
“I’m sorry Mrs. and Miss Coleman but there’s nothing more we can do, we kept him this long on life support but we’re going to have to switch the machine off. I suggest you spend some time with him and start calling the rest of your family, and friends of Derricks”
Tears begin to swim up to the surface at this dreadful news. Daniela tries to be strong for her mother as she holds her in her arms and comforts her. Daniela’s eyes focus on the door to Derrick’s room
“I want to call him daddy, I’ll call him daddy a thousand times if I have to” she says as she holds her mother in her arms
The pair head towards Derrick’s room, as they enter, Daniela stands to one side of her father whilst Dianne stands on the other. He looks so frail and pale lying there. Daniela takes her seat on the chair next to him and she grabs hold of his hand
“I now know all about you and mum. I just want you to know that I’m proud to be your daughter and even more proud to call you daddy. My only regret is that I didn’t know sooner. Then I could have called you daddy after every bedtime story you read to me, at every birthday party you insisted on paying for, after every gift you bought for me and especially after every time that you said you love me.” Tears begin to well up uncontrollably
But she still continues, trying hard not to cry “I love you daddy, i love you, please wake up daddy!” she cries out
The doctor then walks into the room and it’s time to switch of the machine. Mother and daughter kiss him as they say their last goodbye. They then step aside, holding each other as they cry with every memory, every moment spent with Derrick etched within each of their hearts.
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Momma's gotta secret but...So do I (Watty Awards 2012)
Short Story“What do you mean by Uncle D is really my dad?” she looks at her mother’s face with confusion and hope that it’s just a misunderstanding. Daniela is so furious with her mother for keeping such a huge secret from her that she forgets about her little...
