UNBREAKABLE ↠ BRANDON ARREAGA

SEVENTEEN - THE ONE WHO GOT HIT

this chapter is a bit of a filler chapter. it mainly focuses on eliana, as a character, not eliana and brandon. there are some brandon sprinkled here and there, though. i am very sorry for the ending. next chapter will be better, considering it's following what happened in this chapter, and longer!

word count: [2741]

"Eliana!" I felt a soft shake. "Daughter, wake up. I have something to tell you."

I peaked at her with one eye. "What is it? What's so important that you woke me up."

"I finished the book!" She exclaimed with a cheery smile.

I opened both of my eyes. "Mom! That's great! It's going to be another best-seller! I just know it!"

"Thank you, my child," she said sincerely. "I couldn't have done it without you."

I sat up in my bed. "Mom, I am really so proud of you," I told her with a genuine smile. I hugged her. I laid my head on her shoulder.

I couldn't help but feel guilty. I was keeping a secret from her, a huge secret. I never kept a secret from her. How am I supposed to keep this from her? Should I even be keeping this secret from her? What would I even tell her? How am I supposed to tell her?

I pulled away. "So, what's the book about?"

"Well, it's another romance story," she started.

I laughed. "Yes, mom, I know, like always."

"Okay, daughter," she laughed with me. "It's about this girl and guy who are so in love, but they get lost along the way."

"Is it about dad?" I asked. She froze like completely froze. I'm not surprised because I never asked about father, but I am kind of scared because she isn't moving. "Mom?" I questioned, staring at her warily.

"Um, sorry. You just caught me off guard," she answered truthfully.

"All of your stories are about dad in some type of way, right?" I asked quietly, careful to not overstep. I didn't expect her to answer. I just stared at her. I can just tell by just looking at her. "Mom, I know. It's beautiful."

She cradled my head. "My sweet girl, you're beautiful."

"I know," I smiled. "You're beautiful too. I just want you to be happy."

She looked at me with empathy. "My child, I am happy," she reassured, pressing my head against her chest. "You make me so happy."

"Dad made you happy too," I whispered.

"He did," she answered solemnly, "but sometimes good things come to an end. I don't know why he left, and there's a part of me that will always love him because I don't have that closure. All I know is that he missed out on the best thing that could ever happen to him—you."