Zerrie Forevermore

Little Girl

'Your house is gorgeous you know that? But nothing can beat your beauty. Anyway, how was tonight? Did you enjoy it?' Zayn asked as we stood outside the front door of my house.

'Of course. It was the best night of my life. I actually thought you hated me and thought I was a freak or something,' I said.

'Are you kidding me? I've never seen a more beautiful girl Perrie,' he said kissing me on the forehead.

'And I've never seen anyone as awesome as you,' I said pulling him in for another kiss. My arms twirled around his neck. He placed his hands tenderly on my hips. I closed my eyes. I felt like the world was resolving around us. Just us. Nothing else. All of a sudden, the front door of my house opened. 'What the hell are you doing?' A loud voice boomed.

Dad.

My eyes opened wide in shock.

'Umm. D... Dad. This is Zayn. My friend,' I stuttered.

'Your friend? Is that why you're smooching him at your front door?' He asked, his anger visible in his voice.

'Dad, we're together,' I said looking to the floor.

'Thank you for sending my daughter home safely. You can go home now,' my father said in a non-strict but stern tone.

'Ok sir. See you in school tomorrow Perrie,' he said flatly.

'See you.'

'Come in and sit at the dinner table right now. Selena! Come down this instant!' My dad ordered.

I'm in so much trouble.

Mom came down quickly, sensing the anger in dad's tone.

She sat beside me and held my hand.

'It's ok,' she whispered.

'How long have you known him?' Dad asked.

4 days. What is he going to think of me? I've known him for 4 days. I'm screwed.

'4 days dad. But it's not,' I started but he cut me off.

'4 days? You've known him for 4 days? And you dare kiss him at front of the house?' he asked, the fury showing in his eyes.

'Dad, you don't understand! Why are you so mad about this? It was just a kiss!' I shouted back. I really didn't know why he was so pissed off.

'You're too young Perrie. This is not a time for love. You don't understand the complications,' he said, regaining his composure.

'When you fell in love with mom, how old were you? You were 16! And I'm 15! There is no specific time for love dad! When it happens, it happens. And I'm glad I went for it! Because Zayn is one of the best things that ever happened to me!' I screamed running off, looking into dad's eyes for a split second. I could see the hurt in his eyes. I regretted my words the minute I looked into his eyes. I had reminded him of Mom.

'Sweety, I'm coming in,' mom said knocking on my door.

'Is dad okay?' I asked tears rolling down my cheeks.

'He's, well, coping with it. He's thinking of your mother. How about you?'

'I don't know. I don't understand why he's so mad about it. He's my boyfriend and I'm sure I can kiss my boyfriend right?' I asked, infuriated.

'Of course you can Perrie. It's just that to your dad, you'll always be his little girl. Your his only girl. He doesn't want to lose you to someone else. Anyone else. But he will always be there for you. I think you should talk to him,' mom said.

I nodded my head and walked out of the room after giving her a hug.

I knocked on dad's door.

'It's me dad,' I said, hoping that he wouldn't shoo me away.

'Come in,' he said flatly.

I walked in, only to see dad sitting against the bed with a pile of tissues beside him. His eyes were bloodshot and I could feel his pain .

'I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I didn't mean to talk about mom. I am really sorry. I can't believe I did that,' I said tears pouring out of my eyes.

'You don't have to be sorry actually. Come sit down,' dad said, tapping the spot beside him.

I walked over and sat beside him, my eyes focused on the picture of mom, dad, me and Jake.

'Do you know why I was so angry? Only because to me, your still my little girl. The little girl who used to force me to push her on the swing in the playground. The same little girl who used to make me piggyback her around the house. The same little girl who made me play hide-and-seek with her. The same little girl who used to cry to me when she fell off the bike. The same little girl,' he took a breath, 'who sat on my lap and cried her heart out in the hospital ward when her mom died.'

My head was buried in his chest and his arms were wrapped around me protectively. I could feel his heart hammering, threatening to tear its way out of his body. I could feel his tears dampening my hair, drop by drop, his chin resting on my head.

Mom.

The last minutes of her life flashed in my mind...

'Baby, I need you to be strong. Stronger than ever before. I'll be gone soon. I don't want that and I'm sure you don't too. But there is no point in denying it now. I want you to live your life to the fullest. Live your life for me too. I want to have one last song with you. I love you.' mom said weakly. Her heart beat slower by every passing minute.

'Shut the door. Turn the light off. I wanna be with you. I wanna feel your love. I wanna lay beside you. I cannot hide this. Even though I try. Heart beats harder. Time escapes me. Trembling hands touch skin. It makes this harder. And the tears stream down my face. If we could only have this life for one more day. If we could only turn back time.

You know I'll be your life, your voice, you reason to be, my love, my heart is breathing for this, moment in time, I'll find the words to say, before you leave me today.'

And she left me. Her grip on my hand loosened. Her eyes slowly closed.

'No! Mom! Mom! Don't leave me! It's not real! Mom wake up! Please! Just wake up! Dad, tell mom to wake up! Jake! Help me wake her up! No!'

I was screaming, begging for her to wake up, refusing to believe that she was gone. Forever.

I was shaking her violently, pleading for her to come back. Jake's hands gripped my arms firmly, pulling me back.

'It's ok. It's ok,' he whispered.

I ran to dad. His back was against the white wall opposite mom's bed. He was slowly sliding down, tears rolling down his cheeks. He dropped into a sitting position. His fingers digging into the floor. I jumped onto his lap. My hands around his neck and my head on his shoulder. His hand was on my head, tenderly stroking my hair.

'Dad, mom left. She's... She's gone!' I cried in between sobs.

'She'll always be with us.'

I snapped back to reality. I lifted my head off dad's chest. I had soaked his shirt.

'I love you dad,' I said.

'I love you too little girl.'