We Meet Again (Sequel to Without You)

Drunk Driver

"Good evening." Darcy's teacher greets me as I enter the school. I smile at her, and lean in to hug her.
"Good evening." I say, as I pull back. "How are you?" Darcy's teacher has become my friend. Once we met at a mutual friend's house and that's when we became friends.
"I'm good, you?" She asks me, guiding me towards the hall where the art exhibition is being held.
"I'm fine." I say, waving to a few other parents who I've met before.
"Before you enter, I would like to congratulate you for your daughter's amazing art work. She's a talented girl." Cassie says.
"Darcy hasn't mentioned anything about her art class. I didn't know she has an artistic streak in her." Darcy has never failed to impress me, or make me proud.
"Cassie!" Someone calls.
"Excuse me." Cassie says, turning around and heading towards the entrance of the school. I wonder where Darcy got this talent from. I'm pathetic at drawing. My donkeys look like dogs. Maybe, Harry has an artistic streak in him. He never mentioned it to me, though. I push open the doors to the hall. A gush of cold air hits me and I cross my arms over my chest to keep myself warm. I glance around the room. However, I don't see Darcy. She said she'd be here.
"Hi, Mus." Theresa says, coming over to me. She's Darcy's friend's mom.
"Hi. How are you?" I ask her.
"I'm good. Have you seen Darcy and Nicole anywhere?" She looks around the room, trying to find the two girls.
"No. In fact, I'm looking for them myself."
"Oh," she murmurs. Darcy and Nicole left early to help in setting up. They should be here.
"Let's check at the back." I say, noticing another exhibition towards the right. Theresa nods her head, and we head towards that exhibition. My phone starts to ring in my pocket, and I stop to take it out.
It's Josh.
"Please excuse me." I say, moving towards the side of the hall.
"Hi." I say, accepting the call.
"Why aren't you here, yet?" Josh asks me, impatience evident in his tone. I scrunch up my eyebrows in confusion.
"Where? I'm at Darcy's art exhibition."
"What?!" Josh yells, and I move the phone slightly away from my ear. "Mus, you are supposed to be here. With me."
"No, I'm not. I told you I can't attend your office party."
"That doesn't mean you shouldn't attend." Josh says.
"Hear yourself! You sound like a mad person." I say, ending the call. I don't want to spoil my mood by arguing with him. Josh calls again, but I switch off my phone. I'm not in the mood to deal with him at all.
"Mamma!" Darcy yells, crashing into me.
"There you are." I say, as she pulls back. "Where were you? Theresa and I were looking for Nicole, and you."
"Sorry, we were putting away the extra balloons." Darcy says, taking my hand in hers. "Come, I'll show you my paintings."
"You never told me you could paint. I thought you did minor drawings." Darcy laughs.
"I can paint, but my paintings aren't that great."
"Oh, please, don't lie. I bet your paintings are the best." I say. Every mother thinks her work is the best.
"This is one." Darcy says, pointing to a canvas. My eyes widen in shock. The painting is breathtaking. Darcy has drawn a black stallion, but it has so much depth due to the way she's shaded it.
"It's...I have no words. It's too good to describe." I say, admiring it's beauty.
"It's not that great. Sarah, and Janelle can paint better than I can." Darcy says, humbly.
"Never underestimate yourself." I tell her, passing my hand through her hair.
"Mamma, I have to get some items from Ms. Katie's car. I'll be back." Darcy says, leaving my hand and heading towards the exit.
"My other paintings are lined up near the entrance!" Darcy yells, without turning around.
"Okay!" I yell, even though she's exited. Shaking my head at Darcy's level of excitement, I head towards the entrance to see her other paintings. I will frame this painting because it's done so nicely. I don't know much about art, however, I know that Darcy's paintings are amazing. I'm taken by surprise the minute my eyes land on her other paintings. They're equally good. In fact, they're all unique in their own way. Darcy deserves a standing ovation for these paintings. I wish Josh was here. He'd love these paintings as well. Josh. I don't know what our future is anymore. I don't seem to see a future with him anymore. Times have changed, and so have we. I'm not the same, and neither is Josh. I wish I could turn back time. I would never accept his proposal. Alas, I can't. For some reason, I seem to be making mistake upon mistake, and I can't find a way to correct my mistakes. When we've made a decision or come out of a situation, we always regret it or think about alternatives to what we did. It's an amusing thought. I wish we would make the right decisions at that time, when we have the power to change something. I would change so much. Firstly, I would never treat Harry the way that I did. It was highly cruel of me to do so. He simply wanted my love, and affection. However, I turned him away. I treated him like an enemy, not a lover. Sometimes, I want to hit myself for my stupid choices. For my wrong choices. Sighing, I take out my phone and switch it on. It's getting late, Darcy and I should head home. I need to give Josh dinner as well. For some reason, he prefers to avoid eating food at parties. Darcy must be hungry as well. I exit the hall and head towards the entrance of the school. Darcy should be in the teacher's parking lot. I'm about to cross the road when a car speeds down the road. Immediately, I step onto the pavement. I think the driver is drunk because the car is zigzagging down the road. His headlights are off as well. Asshole! This is a school area. A child could get hurt.
"Darcy, move!" I hear Nicole yell. I turn my head to find Darcy sitting near a car's tyre. What the heck is she doing?
"She's stuck!" Darcy says, and she sounds frustrated. My eyes widen as I realize the drunk driver is heading straight for Darcy, and she isn't moving. For some reason, my feet aren't moving, and my voice is stuck in my throat.
"Darcy! Forget the damn puppy. Move!" Nicole yells again, and her voice is laced with panic.
"No!" It's dark so I can't see where the puppy is stuck. But, I think it's stuck in the tyre.
"Darcy!" Nicole whines. I will my feet to move, but they don't oblige. I feel like yelling in frustration. I want to do something, anything that will move Darcy. However, I'm frozen. The car is just a few centimeters away from Darcy.
"Darcy, move!" I yell, finally finding my voice. Darcy looks up, and I hear a whimper. I think she's managed to free the puppy. Everything happens at once. Someone runs across the road, and grabs Darcy. Darcy and this man slam onto the ground. However, he takes the force of the fall because he's holding Darcy on top of his chest. All of a sudden, I unfreeze. I rush towards Darcy and the man.
"Are you okay, Darcy?" I freeze in my tracks. That voice. I've yearned to hear this voice. I've yearned to meet him.
"Harry," I whisper.