Invisible String | TVD x WIZARDING WORLD

HELLO ELEVEN

Dear Diary,
Today was... I don't even have words. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it.

It started early this morning, while everything was still calm and peaceful, and the sky outside was still a soft shade of blue. I pretended to be asleep because I knew Daddy was coming in, but I wanted to surprise him — I wanted to hear what he had to say, even though I didn't want to make it obvious I was awake.
He sat down beside me, and at first, everything was so quiet. Then, in that familiar, deep, but soft voice of his, he began talking.
"Diana," he said, his voice filled with emotion, as if he was struggling to find the right words. "I don't even know how to begin telling you this, but you need to hear it. When I first found you, when you came into my life, I was... broken. I didn't believe in good things anymore. I was too far gone, lost in my own darkness. And then you... you showed up. You were so small, so innocent, so full of life. You didn't care about my past, about the mistakes I made. You loved me, just for who I am. You reminded me of something I had forgotten — that there's still light in this world. That I could still be loved. That I could still be someone worth loving."
His words hit me like a wave, and I felt my heart swell. I tried to stay still, not letting him know I was awake, but I couldn't help it. My eyes were wide open now, and my heart was beating so fast. He continued.
"You've made me better, Diana. Every single day you make me want to be better. I watch you grow, and I see so much of myself in you. The fire in your eyes, the way you never give up, the way you love with everything you have — you are everything I could have ever hoped for. I would go to the ends of the earth to make sure you're safe, to make sure you're happy. And no matter how old you get, how far you go in this life, no matter what happens, you will always be my little girl. My heart. My reason for being. I promise you this: I will always be here for you. I will never leave. Even if the world changes, even if I change, that promise will never break."
I couldn't keep it in anymore. I just burst into tears, louder than I intended, and jumped into his arms as fast as I could. The words came tumbling out of me like a flood —
"I love you, Daddy!! Promise me you'll always be with me! Always!! Promise!"
He held me so tightly, like he was never going to let me go. His breath was warm against my hair as he whispered,
"I promise, Diana. I will always be here. Always. Nothing will ever change that."
I stayed in his arms for what felt like forever, feeling like everything was perfect, like there was nothing else in the world but me and him.
Just as I was wiping my tears away, I heard a burst of laughter and Care and Bonnie came charging into the room, singing "Happy Birthday" at the top of their lungs. I almost couldn't stop giggling, even though I was still a little teary. They stopped, though, when they realized it was an emotional moment. I think they felt a little bad about interrupting, but Daddy didn't care. He picked me up and started spinning me around in the room like we were dancing to some invisible tune. I didn't even care that I was still crying a little. I felt so loved, so cared for.
We went downstairs after that, and I swear, I stopped breathing for a moment when I saw what was waiting for me.
The house was beautifully decorated. There were green and black balloons everywhere, filling every corner like the world was covered in my favorite colors. And there,  I saw a giant dragon statue, covered in glittery tiaras and sparkly things — MY DRAGON. I don't know how they managed to make it look so real, but there it was, like it was meant for me.It made me feel like the most important person alive, like I was in my own fairytale.
And then, there was the car — a green 1969 Chevy, the same as Daddy's, but in forest green, my absolute favorite color. I could hardly believe it when I saw it. It was sitting there, like it was meant for me, like it was part of the dream that was unfolding around me.
The table in the middle of the room was draped with fairy lights that flickered like little stars, and under the tree — a fake tree, but still so perfect — there were presents stacked neatly. It looked like something out of a storybook, like I was the main character in a fairytale, and this was my happily-ever-after.
I ran to the presents, but then Care stopped me and said, "You'll open them when everyone who loves you is here, Diana." I didn't argue. I just smiled, knowing that the best part of the day was the love, not the gifts.
Stefan came over and wished me a happy birthday, and we all sat down together for breakfast. Waffles, pancakes, whipped cream, and all my favorite things. It felt like heaven, like everything was in place. I felt surrounded by love.
But it wasn't just the decorations or the presents that made today so special. It was the way Daddy held me. The way he promised to never leave. The way everyone around me made me feel so cared for. Today was about the people who love me, about being surrounded by warmth and happiness. I know that no matter what, I'll always have them. I'll always have Daddy, and I'll always have this family, even when things get tough.
~~~~~~~

(to be continued)