Back Together ~ pt 4

❤︎︎ Seventeen ❤︎︎

Eventually dad's birthday came along... His 40th birthday and mum still wasn't awake... it was gonna be her birthday 3 days after... I had snuck out of school a couple days ago and I went to build a bear. I decided to get dad a bear. I knew he already had one that looked like mum but I wanted to make this one different. I had found a video I took a couple years ago of them cuddling up and there was something special that mum said. Something that I knew would make dad tear up. I gave dad the bear and he instantly smiled.

"i know you and mum already have bears that look like each other but this one is different... if you press the paw there's a voice message in it" I said. He pressed the paw and instantly started basically bawling his eyes out. The voice message said: "I love you more than the stars, Lan... I always will". He was literally wiping his tears as more fell. "I found it from an old video I took of you and mum a couple years ago... it's not much but it's something, dad..." I said. He pulled me straight towards him and cuddled me in the seat next to mum's hospital bed. "Happy Birthday, Dad"

"Thank you, sweetheart. I love you more than anything in the world. And you know what?"

"What?"

"I'm going to fight even harder for your mother now. I promise you that. We're not giving up on her, no matter what"

"yeah... it's just really sad that she's still not waking up... not even for your 40th birthday..."

"I know, honey. But we can't give up hope. We'll find a way to bring her back to us. I just need you to be strong for me right now"

"I will..."

"I'm proud of you, kiddo. You're growing up so fast"

"I wish I wasn't sometimes... being 13 sucks more than I ever thought..."

"Trust me, it gets better. And remember, you can always come to me with anything. You know that"

"I know... but that's enough about me... it's your birthday and we've gotta try and make it a decent day for you... even if mum still isn't waking up..."

"Thank you, sweetheart. You're the best daughter a father could ask for. Now, let's make this birthday special for me. What would you like to do?"

"it's your birthday. you choose. we can go do something or we can just stay here with mum... it's completely up to you... it's your day..."

"Let's just stay here with Mum today"

"okay then. want me to get us some food? I can walk into centre Cardiff and get us some McDonald's or Nando's? I know those are your favourites"

"That sounds perfect, Liliana. Get us some McDonald's and Nando's"

"both? okay, whatever the birthday king wants" I said with a laugh. "I'll be back in like an hour. and I promise I'll be careful and safe. you have my location anyways. I'll be back soon, dad" I said as I left a little kiss on his cheek. I finally came back with the food. I bought us a little blanket too while I was out. I laid it down on the floor and put our food laid out on it. "you are so lucky that you aren't in F1 anymore. you wouldn't be able to eat any of this if you still were"

"True, but then again, I wouldn't be in this position to enjoy this delicious food with my amazing daughter either. So, I think it all evens out" he said as he took a bite of his Big Mac

"I'm not that amazing, dad..."

"Oh, but you are, sweetheart. You've been my rock through everything, always there to listen, support, and make me laugh when things get tough. You're kind, caring, strong, and so brave"

"as if..."

"Don't sell yourself short, kiddo. You're amazing, and I'm proud to call you my daughter. Now let's enjoy this food before it gets cold!"

"I still think they should rename Nando's to Lando's because you love it so much" I said. Dad instantly zoned out. He always did that when I said something that mum had said in the past... he was having a flashback. I waved my hand in front of his face. "Dad, you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good" he said as he shook himself out of his thoughts

"I'm guessing mum used to say that then... you always zone out like that after I say certain things and it's always because you're having a flashback of something mum said"

"Yes, she used to say that. It's just..."

"I'm acting more like mum?"

"I wouldn't say you're acting exactly like her, but you do have some of her traits. Her sense of humour, her wit, her determination. It makes me feel like she's still with us in a way"

"well technically she is still with us... I think she's half and half... half in the afterlife and half still here... she's just still trying to decide if life is worth living... I just really hope she chooses to stay"

"I know you do, Lily. We all do"

"I just know she won't wake up in time for her birthday... I'm just hoping she wakes up in time for Christmas..."

"We'll keep praying, sweetheart"

It was mum's birthday... she still hadn't woken up... I didn't think she ever would... I sat down on the bed and held her hand again.

"hey, mum... happy birthday... I know you can't see what I've got you but I can describe it to you... I got you this necklace like dad's the one with the interlocked rings with diamonds around it... except yours is rose gold unlike dad's silver one..." I said as I put it around her neck. She would have loved it... Dad then sat down and put a new ring on her finger

"Happy birthday, my love... I got you this ring. I promised to take care of you and our daughter, and I meant it" he said. Then something happened. We couldn't believe it. Mum tapped her finger. It took 4 hours but then she finally opened her eyes. I had tears pouring down mine as I literally landed in her arms while breaking down.

"Hey, Lan... Hey, Lils..." she said

"Oh, Lexi. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We love you so much" dad said as he pressed his lips on her forehead with tears also running down his face. "We almost lost you, Lexi. But here you are, still with us. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't woken up"

"you've done well, Lan... i heard everything you said to me... and I'm proud of both of you for staying so strong throughout this all... but I'm not leaving yet. I'm gonna be here for a lot longer than this. I promise I'm not going anywhere... I need to be here for both of you... I need to be here to be a wife and be here to be a mother"