SUMMER LOVE

XXIII - She always finds a way to make me love her even more

*Theodor*

We're in the car. The road seems to have more bumps now and the hospital seems to be further than ever.

'Are you alright back there?' – Amanda keeps asking me. I nod as response. I love it how she cares so much. I love it how, even after my nodding, she keeps looking at me through the rearview mirror, she keeps checking if I'm alright. 'We're almost there.' – She said as an encouragement. We weren't.

I've never been in this situation. I mean, yes, I've never had a shot in my leg before, thank God for that. But what I want to say is she's never had to be this worried about my well-being and comfort. When she got drunk, for instance. I was the one to look after her. And now it's me who is the victim. Regardless of all the bad, sometimes it is good to be in danger. It shows if one really cares about us.

'Just hang on, Theodor.' – She keeps looking in the mirror. She looks good when she's focused.

And I come up with a few words to break the tension.

'I'm sorry.' – I end up vomiting.

'For what?' The anxiousness in her voice was evident.

'Ruining your birthday.'

A red light makes her stop so she turns around and looks at me. 'This was my best birthday ever, Theodor.' She's not a good liar.

An awkward silence takes place. I look through my window. Little water drops are sliding on the glass, as racing and competing against each other. It's raining.

'My dad was a really good painter.' – She admitted.

'Oh really?'

'Yeah, he could paint. And you know one thing he used to tell me all the time?' – She makes a pause. – 'Art never comes from happiness... And I guess it is true. Pablo Picasso wasn't happy when he painted Guernica. You know, and I guess that's what makes it so strong, art.'

She looks so good whilst talking about things she's interested in. And although it looked a little bit out of context for me, then I got it.

'Your dad is proud of you.'

'I know he is. And I have learned to accept that he isn't with me anymore. The thing is, it is just hard, Theodor.' – She pulls over, totally ignoring my bleeding leg. – 'It's hard not to have him here. He taught me everything I know. And it's really hard, because I know he won't see me graduate, or marry, or have kids. And it's even harder to see that you have a family and you choose to be away from them.' She wipes her eyes with her sleeves and we're on the road again. 'I still feel him, you know. Sometimes, when I'm feeling lost. I can smell him in the flowers of my backyard and taste him in that slice of chocolate cake. He's my little piece of happiness.'

I just smile. Her words make me quiver. She's so wise.

'I never thought I'd be comparing my dad to a piece of chocolate cake.' – She laughs as she says.

'I guess he wouldn't mind.'

'Jokes over, he didn't even like chocolate cake. He was allergic.'

And we both burst into laughter. And I genuinely believe that it was an honest laughter. Because there's beauty and happiness even in the darkest days. But hey, it's a bad day, not a bad life.

We arrive at the hospital. She parks the car and stops for a minute. 'And you should thank God that I'm a smooth driver.'

**

Hello! I'm back, finally! Hope you enjoy this chapter, I know it is a little too short but I've been kind of busy lately... Just vote, vote, vote because I love you guys! Ana xx