Bruno's Daughter

Chapter 35

Kristi's POV:

Casita opened the cupboard with the cups and I took one of the cups out. "Thank you, Casita," I smiled. Casita lifted it's tiles as if to say, "You're welcome!" I filled the cup with water and put a lid on it so it wouldn't spill or get sand in it. I then went up the stairs and entered his room.

"Papa?" I spoke softly. He looked like he was falling asleep, or, at least about to. I smiled, taking the lid off the cup. I sat down on the bed and raised papa's head, helping him drink the water.

He lay back with a sigh. "That feels better...Thank you, princess."

I smiled back at him. "Of course, papa. Now, get some rest. You should be fine tomorrow....I hope." He looked away, a slight frown on his face. I understood this face very well. "I know you don't want to go back to sleep...You're afraid of dreaming again. Don't worry, papa. I'll be right here with you." I smiled at him, pulling the blanket up over him.

 I closed my eyes, smiling as I began a soft song, to help him sleep. "When I am down, and oh, my soul, so weary...When troubles come, and my heart burdened be....Then I am still and wait here in the silence...Until you come, and sit a while with me..." I sang softly, smiling as I gently played with papas hair. He sighed deeply, giving a small smile.

 "You raise me up so I can stand on mountains....You raise me up to walk on stormy seas....I am strong, when I am on your shoulders...You raise me up to more than I can me..." I hummed a little, watching as he seemed to relax.

 "You raise me up so I can stand on mountains! You raise me up to walk on stormy seas....I am strong, when I am on your shoulders....You raise me up to more than I can be..." I smiled at him, lightly tugging on his hair, as I began the chorus again.

 "You raise me up so I can stand on mountains! You raise me up to walk on stormy seas! I am strong when I am on your shoulders! You raise me up to more than I can be..." I could see he was slowly beginning to fall asleep. I smiled, moving his hair out of his face, and taking his hand in mine.

 "You raise me up so I can stand on mountains! You raise me up to walk on stormy seas! I am strong when I am on your shoulders.....You raise me up to more than I can be...You raise me up...to more than I....can be..." I sang the final part slow and soft. I smiled as papa's soft snores filled my ears.

 I stayed by papa's bedside that night, holding his hand, careful not to wake him. Look, it may sound strange for me, as his daughter, to be singing my papa to sleep, but hey, it always worked when he sang me to sleep after a nightmare. It helped take my mind off it. And, I think it helped him too. 

 Every word I sang was true...My papa has always been my hero. He always will be. Nothing will change, even though Andres and I are boyfriend and girlfriend and getting closer every day. Our love continues to grow. But, so does mine and papa's.

 Third Person POV:

 That night, Kristi slept in Bruno's room. And Bruno slept soundly and peacefully with his daughter holding his hand. 

 The next morning, he woke up to Kristi's hand still holding his. He smiled as he looked over at her sleeping figure, sitting next to his bed. He looked back up at the ceiling, remembering last nights events. And the evening's conversation. He sighed before wincing as a pain shot through his head.

 "I haven't even been using my gift much...Why is this happening..?" he wondered. He looked at Kristi as she stirred in her sleep. "I need to tell her...She won't let this go." he then gave a chuckle and a small, sad smile. "She's as stubborn as Juan was..." 

 Bruno thought back to the times he spent with Carmen Hernandez and Juan Lorenzo. Carmen was a pretty young woman. She was kind and gentle. She was loyal and could always tell when you weren't being completely honest. She was supportive and compassionate. 

 Juan, was firm and stubborn. And to be honest, you didn't want to make him mad. His temper, was not something you wanted to experience first hand. But, when he wasn't mad, he was a kind, handsome young man. In many ways, Carmen helped keep Juan in line. He could be pushy sometimes, but usually only when he felt the need to be. Usually only with Carmen and Bruno. He was like Carmen at times. He knew when you were lying. Juan could also be funny. He was a family man. And for him, Carmen and Bruno were family. He loved his family and protected them.

 While Carmen and Juan would get into heated arguments, Bruno was the one who tried to keep the peace. He didn't like fights and controversy. Bruno had always been that way. Shy and timid. Not much for people. But, really, he would've loved some friends. His life changed when he met Juan and Carmen. And they made sure he knew he was never alone. He always had someone who cared about him. And, for the most part, he believed them. They always told him he wasn't the reason bad things would happen. That he was special and given his gift for a reason. But, that was one thing he was never sure if he could believe.

 After their death, he didn't believe them. Sure, he trusted them with his life and knew they'd never lie to him! But he wasn't willing to believe he was special. That his gift was special and not a curse. He wasn't willing to believe he wasn't the cause of the bad things that happened.

 Sure, things had changed now and his thoughts weren't as bad as before. But he still wondered. He still struggled.

 Bruno's POV:

 Kristi woke up slowly. She looked at me and gave me a smile. I smiled back.

 "Morning, papa," she said. 

 I sat up in my bed. "Good morning, my angel. Did you sleep well?"

 She nodded. "Did you? No nightmares or anything...? Any pain?"

 "No. I slept well...Thank you." I replied. 

 "Papa.....Last night, I didn't say anything about your nightmare because you weren't in any condition to talk about it...But I want to know....Why were you dreaming about my parents' funeral...? Why did you say you were sorry...? I know and understand why you were upset. They were your best and only friends! But...apologizing...? I don't understand..."

 I groaned. I was hoping she wouldn't ask about it. Well, I guess I gotta tell her sometime....The question is...Can I bring myself to answer her..?