Love Me In The Dark (A Damon Story)

Chapter 11

David's POV

I still remember the day my father died of liver cancer. It was one of the most devastating days of my life. I have to say that things were difficult between us at the beginning as it was hard for him to adapt to the way I was and the things I liked. Seeing your child wearing a dress is not something that many parents have as a goal in life. All my life I always wanted something and that was to make my father proud of me, I longed to see that look of pride on his face when he would talk about me to his co-workers or to mum when they thought Julie and I were asleep and not listening to their conversations. So I struggled to reach that goal. Many people want to make it big for the fame, the money and the opulent life that comes with it, but I wanted to make it big so that my father would be proud of me. It took many years of pursuing that goal until one day, coming out of the London Canal, having swum for hours for charity, I made it, I could see the pride on my father's face and I knew it had all been worth it.

His illness came out of the blue as I have rarely seen my father drink alcohol in my life and I have to say that the battle with liver cancer was far from easy. Hospitalisations and watching his whole life deteriorate part by part, watching a strong man being beaten by a deadly and invisible enemy. It was devastating.

I always wanted to make you proud.

I remember saying that in front of his grave on the day of his funeral as I shed a tear and said goodbye. Nothing lasts forever and no one outwits death, not even Simon can keep it away with all his influence and millions of dollars, not even that could stop death from taking his mother. That night I stayed with him, held him and comforted him as the storm raged over London. I thought hell would freeze over before I saw Simon cry, before I saw him so vulnerable, and yet he broke down in my arms. You definitely can't judge someone by the reputation the media and a TV mask create for them. As soon as he calmed down, Simon went back inside with his family to make the necessary paperwork and funeral arrangements. I returned home at dawn. The night before I had walked through that door with various fairy tales swirling around in my head. A romantic dinner with the man I like and maybe I would manage to break down his prejudices and get a kiss, a good one this time, at the end of the night. And yet everything is different at dawn, a night plagued by tragedy and pain and a shattered Simon in my arms.

I grab my laptop as soon as I enter my room and decide to write to someone I haven't written to in a long time. A person who was there for me in my darkest moment without anyone knowing.

Dear Lara.

You are probably sleeping right now or I would probably venture to say that you are enjoying cocktails with your girlfriends in some bar in New York but I felt the need to pull you out of the period of ivernation I have you in and talk to you. After all, who is Lara Stone without her sad David? I just got back from the hospital after the death of the mother of the man I like, yes, you read that right, it's a man this time and he's soul crushed just now. I remembered my dad and it's hard not to feel sad after everything that happened with Simon the night before. Anyway, come to London as soon as you can, I need a whisky and a hug from you.

Love,

David Walliams

Lara is the woman who has seen my most vulnerable side and the person my fans hate. Why? Simply because I love her too much and they think she's toxic to me, but I can't help but want her around when the sadness hits me. I know that email will be the trigger to get her to come to London so I send it. I get some sleep and when I wake up, I get ready for my appearance at BGT. Simon won't be there but Amanda, Alesha and I have to keep the boat afloat. I arrive at the studio and the girls greet me.

"How is Simon?," Amanda asks as Simon is probably not answering his phone.

"It would do him good to have you by his side at the funeral," I advise her and sigh heavily, "He's devastated," I answer her question and go to my dressing room to get ready.