The One Who Didn't Die

13. Million Reasons

A/N: I'm just going to leave this here ...

September

I pulled up to my parents' house and the car was parked, I just sat inside for a moment before getting out. The driver grabbed my moderately - sized bag and handed it to me before I made my way to the door. As I was about to ring the bell, my dad appeared behind the door. He had clearly been waiting for me.

"Serena." He said with a cheerful smile opening his arms to give me a hug.

"Hi dad." I said mid - embrace. "Can I come in before this goes any further? It's a little breezy out here, you know." I said as he held on tight.

"Sorry, I'm just so excited to see you." He said moving aside to allow me in. I closed the door behind me once I had stepped inside. "Mom is still in Austin so it's just you and me until later, then I have to be at the hospital by 20h00." He explained taking a seat on an armrest of the nearest couch.

"Thank you for catching me up on your day dad." I said smiling. "I am no longer in the dark but, just in case you're concerned, I'm fine being alone; you don't have to feel bad at all about having to leave me." I continued. "And I know you do." I said.

"Regardless of how old you are, I am your father and I look out for you." He said hugging me again. "You came all the way over here only to be left by your parents." He said folding his arms. This is one of the reasons I haven't been home much lately, aside from the busy tour schedule, the coddling is a bit much. There's also the other big reason, the dead daughter thing can be a downer. "Are Jo and Daryl in town yet?" He asked.

"Jo already flew down this morning with Leonard and I don't know about Daryl." I said pulling my phone out to check the time. "He had to work late today last I checked so I think he might be driving tomorrow or something; not sure really." I shrugged. He nodded.

"Oh okay." He said looking more sceptical than what I needed at the moment.

"But dad, listen, I really need to sleep." I said shutting the remainder of the current conversation down. "I was performing last night, then went home to pack and of course made it here. I am barely keeping my eyes open even now." I said picking my bag back up off the floor.

"Sure, you need to be well rested anyway." He said standing up too. He gave me another squeeze then I headed upstairs straight after.

I walked past Daphne's room. I decided to pop my head in before going to my own room. It looked the same as it had before, in April, in December and before that. The only different thing I spotted was a second violin placed next to the one that stayed in our parents' home. I recognised the second as the one she had played for the last time on. Those were her last moments wherein she was truly living.

I toddled over to the case, picked it up and put it on the bed. I took the bow in my hand followed by the actual violin after opening the case. The wood of the body was shining and there was resin present on the rest of it, my mom was clearly taking care of the instrument.

"How serious are you about going into Country Music?" Daphne asked crossing her legs on the floor.

"As serious as you are about your degree and becoming the NYCPO principal violinist." I responded.

"You're good, you're really good and I see how much you love playing and singing, writing and arranging." She said with so much life in her voice.

"But?"

"Do you know what you're getting yourself into?" She asked ignoring my 'but.' "I'm asking because the industry is competitive in all facets but the commercial life that is Country, is a lot more than ordinary competition. It's dog eat dog; fighting to stand out and stay on top." She said.