In Her Shoes

Twin Tragedy-The Trick

Hi! Thanks everyone for supporting this story so far. I am grateful for all the votes and comment. Please keep them coming.As promised this is the last installment of this story. Please let me know if you would like me to explore this story further in a separate book.

Dan's POV

She is so confusing. The most frustrating woman I have ever met. Oh! God, can't she think straight even for a moment? I mean there she was always hanging around Rob and today she tells me I am on her mind all the time.

What does she want from me?

I was still in thoughts when Mum spoke to me, "Dan what happened here?"

Ok, no more Mel in sight, I don't know when she left and Mum appeared.

" I don't know Mom. Mel was here so disaster was sure to follow." I said stating the obvious.

Really Dan? Why are you so bitter about her?" Mum asked.

"Why aren't you? She is responsible for your Son's death." I retaliated.

" No she is not and you know that." Mum said.

"Mom you don't know the whole story..." I began but she interrupted me.

" I know, Mel told me everything. The question really isn't if she was actually in trouble or not. Rob died because he decided to drive that night with that much alcohol in his system. He knew better than that. Mel didn't know he was drunk. Rob could have used some help from you or his other friends."

She sat down on the bed and spoke again," I have spent half my life raising you Dan but I was hardly ever with him. Yet I know he was the more responsible and sincere one. He made a mistake that night but that was 'his' mistake."

" Mom she was driving him insane calling him up all day long. She just wanted to be with him 24x7." I tried to explain my point.

"Did Rob ever tell you that it bothered him and she was driving him insane?" Mum asked me.

I tried to think but my mind drew a blank. I admitted sheepishly, "No".

"Hmm... I thought so.Normal couples do that all the time. That's why they get married, to be with each other 24x7."

"I think Dan, their proximity was driving you insane but the question is, why?"

"What are you saying Mom? " The entire world has gone beserk.

"Think about it Dan, why are you so bitter about her, whatever she does? Did she ever really do anything to hurt you?" Mum asked.

This craziness was really making me angry now after all that happened mom really wants to know if she hurt me.

"Yes mom, she did", I yelled and started pacing the room.

"She is the most frustrating woman I ever met.The most confused person I ever knew. I was her friend even before she knew Rob. Then she met my brother and all she wanted to do was spend time with him. They started dating and I let them be. She hardly ever left him alone to be with me. Then one fine day, Rob proposes and they decide to get married. Several times, I asked Rob to think if he was doing the right thing. How did he know it was love? That butthead never listened to me."

"She was no good either, always calling him and being around. Now that Rob has died suddenly there is a change in her heart. Suddenly she decided, Dan is her new baby doll.
So she comes here, every single day.Do you think I don't notice her pain, as she sat here, silently, stealing glances at me, expecting me to talk to her any moment? Today she really outdid herself, after all this she tells me I am on her mind all the time. Do you have any idea how I have waited all these years to hear those words?" I blurted out.

"Now she has said this, I am not sure what to do with this. Wasn't it bad enough that I have wanted the girl my brother was engaged to ever since I have known her? Now when Rob isn't here why did she have to tell me all this."I said, suddenly feeling extremely tired.

Bloddy hell, I was supposed to mask those feelings forever. I never even admitted to myself that I liked Mel. Where was this coming from?

"Dan, well, I don't know what Mel feels but you know what you feel. Both of you are living under a guilt that's not yours to begin with. Isn't it the guilt that makes you bitter?" Mum asked and I nodded in agreement.

"Now we have to do something about this, don't you agree? I think apologies will be a good place to start with." Mom said and then left me in the room alone in thoughts.

As the evening approached I made my way to Mel's house with yellow tulips in my hand.I knew in my heart she deserved better. She was right Rob wouldn't have treated her like I did in the past few days but Rob didn't need to push her away like I had to.

When I knocked the door I was ready for everything including her slapping me again, shutting the door on my face and asking me to fuck off. She appeared a few minutes later and contrary to all my expectations hugged me crying on my shoulder.

All breath was knocked out of my body. It took me a few seconds to realise I was just standing there then I held her as lightly as I could. She just didn't stop crying. I was not ready for this yet. We sat down on the stairs of her porch. I held her from behind as she rested her head on my arms still sobbing.

When the first rays of sun hit my face next morning I realised we had been sleeping on her porch all night. She was curled up against me. Her beautiful face radiant with the morning light.

Dan or Rob? I was the playing this trick on her all along, till now.I guess the trick was on me now, was it Dan or Rob she was holding so close to her heart