One Step Closer

Thanks

Rosalie*

Daniel and I went downstairs to see if his mom was there. I was still sad but I was holding my tears so his mom won't see me crying. His mom was cooking dinner for us. She seems busy with it 'cause she wasn't looking at us even though we went downstairs. Daniel looked down at me with an are-you-okay-for-my-mom-to-see look. I nodded. He nodded back.

"Hey mom, meet my new friend Rose." he smiled

"Huh, oh it's you Daniel. Hello Rose I'm Tia Myles. Daniel's mom" she smiled. When she smiled she looked like Daniel.

"Hello Mrs. Myles" I smiled.

"Dinner would be done in a few minutes." She turned to the food she was cooking. I sat down on an empty chair with Daniel doing the same. After a few minutes, Mrs. Myles was done cooking. I said "thank you" for the meal. I took some food and ate her food. It tasted delicious. I was eating until I was full. I said "thank you" again and told Daniel that I was going upstairs. He nodded then continue eating. I went upstairs to his room. I sat on his bed, took my phone out and just look at my messages. My mom texted me about the time I'll go home. I replied later. I looked around the room seeing if there was anything interesting in the room. I went to the guitar and played a few notes. After playing that, I heard clapping from the door. It was Daniel.

"Wow, didn't know you can play even just a little of the guitar." he said

"I learned from my dad...." My voice trailed off at the end

"Okay, you've been sad ever since you mentioned your dad. What's up?" He faced me.

"My dad and I were really close when I was a kid. We would play at the house. When we go to the mall, we would always roam together. And he always was the person I can tell everything to. Then one day when I was still at school, it rained like it was a storm and it also had thunder and lightning. I coudn't leave the place so I called my parents from a telephone. They said they'll go there so I won't be alone. So my dad drove there then the car slipped from the wet floor and it crashed into a pole. I was at school waiting then the rain lit up and I eventually went home by myself. I then saw this crowed and I walked towards it. I was shocked at what I saw. My dad inside the car bleeding. The people drove him to the hospital but he was dead on arrival." I felt hot tears at my eyes by just saying this. Daniel gave me his (different) handkerchief to me and I wipe the tears. He comforted me as I continued crying.

"It's okay Rose. Are you okay now?" He said

"Well..... I feel a little better saying this to someone. I have never told anyone about this." I returned his handkerchief.

"Then I feel honored and I can't believed you trusted me even though you just met me." He said

"I guess you look like a person I can trust." I replied. I took out my phone and saw it was nearly 8:00 and my mom must be worried.

I stood up. "I have to go, my mom will freak out if I went back home late." He also stood up.

"I'll take you home." And I just nodded. We walked back to my house. But while we were walking, neither of us were talking. So there was an awkward silence.... well for me. I don't know if he thought it was awkward. We got there before 8:00. I faced him. "Thanks for your comfort and help. Bye". I went inside and saw my mom looking at the photo album she doesn't want me to see. I saw her closed it before I can see what's inside.

"Hey mom." I said

"Hello sweetie." She walked over me and hugged me. "Let's eat dinner." I nodded and walked to my seat. Even though I ate already, I didn't want my mom to eat alone. She seemed sad. I guess its because of the album. I shook the curiousity away from me.

"Sweetie, remember the photo album you wanted to see." I nodded in response.

"Do you want to see after dinner."

"Sure mom." Because of what my mom said , my curiousity became 10x bigger than before. I finished dinner earlier than my mom since I only took a portion. My mom took our plates to the dish water. She finished. She motioned me to sit at the couch with her. I followed her. She took the photo album out.

"Are you sure that you want to see it?" I nodded and she opened it. I was shocked when I saw pictures of dad with my mom on some pages. They looked happy together in every picture. I saw pictures of both of them in a party, mom's birthday and some of dad's birthday. But my favorite part of seeing those pictures were mom and dad's wedding. I looked at other pictures and I saw me with dad. I saw pictures that I can't remember being taken. I felt tears build up at my eyes. My mom saw that and she started to pat my back.

"I know what you feel,dearie. I miss him too." she said

"I miss dad but why didn't you show this to me earlier?" I asked

"Because I don't know how you'll react." I nodded in response. I closed the photo album and put it on top of the coffee table. I wiped my tears.

"Okay mom, we should really stop crying already." my mom nodded and she also wiped her tears.

"Mom, where's the shirt of my friend?" I asked changing the topic.

"Oh!" she stood up and went into the other room.

She returned with a shirt that looks like what I wore the other day.

"Is it this one?" I nodded and snatch it from her grasp. I said 'thanks' and said 'Good Night'. I went to my room. I put the shirt in my bag. I went to my bathroom and prepared myself for my sleep. After that I lied down on my bed still thinking of my dad.

A/N: Sorry for the late update. I promise I'll try to update my stories really fast this time.