Endurances

Part 25 - Catching Up

-Elliana's POV-

The drive on the way home from Miami was the most surreal thing I've ever experienced. Grayson thought since now we were engaged, that we should tell our backstories, and I agreed that it was fair.

He looked over at me, "So, first things first, I want to know what your real name was. I know you're technically not supposed to tell anyone, but this is different you know?"

I nodded, "ya it is different. Um my real name was Addalina."

He smiled, "That's a pretty name, but I like Elliana better"

I giggled, "ya so do I"

"So lets get serious now" He said, "How did you end up with me? What happened to your parents?"

I sighed, tearing up almost immediately, "Um so, I was babysitting for my four year old cousin, and my parents went out grocery shopping. They were usually gone for about 2-3 hours when they went out grocery shopping, so it didn't really strike me as strange when they were gone for longer. After they had been gone for about 5 hours was when I really started to get worried. The next thing I know, the sheriff was at my door explaining to me that they were both found dead."

Grayson looked sad, "w-well how did they die? Do you know?"

I stuttered, "y-ya I do. The sheriff said that my dad had stolen something from the store, and then one of the cashiers caught him and held a gun to his head to give it back. The problem was though that my dad hadn't stolen anything, so he didn't have anything to give to the cashier. Since he didn't give up his "stolen item," the cashier shot both him and my mom before the police could get there."

Grayson had tears in his eyes at this point also, "Are you sure your dad hadn't taken anything?"

I turned away from Grayson, "I'm one hundred percent positive. My dad would never do anything like that."

Grayson grabbed my hand and squeezed it, "I'm sorry El."

I wiped my tears away, "okay, your turn. You said your dad had passed?"

"uh ya, My dad will forever be my best friend. I miss him so fucking much. He is responsible for making me the person that I am so proud to be today. He was and forever will be my favorite person that I will ever know. ... He never missed a sporting event, school event, show on tour, anything that ever meant anything to me, he was always there to support me. Even when he was too sick to get up, he figured out a way to comfort me and help me with anything I needed. He never left my corner. When I was sick in the hospital after I was just born, he sat in the room with a hand on me talking to me until I got better. I will always remember that and that is one of the most special things anyone has ever done for me. ... He raised me into a man for the past 19 years, but I can honestly say that I've learned the most from him in his last 2 1/2. Five and a half years ago he was diagnosed with this bullshit and he never let it fade him. Not once did I hear him complain about his condition. He held his head as high as he physically could, and fought on and on until he won that fucking battle. When the doctors said he only had a year to live after being diagnosed, he pushed and battled for 2 and 1/2 years! Three years ago when the doctor told us he had less than a week to live, he stood his ground and stayed with us for a week and an extra day. That alone shows the type of man he was, a fighter. He never let cancer fade him, it may have taken his body, but his heart, his mind, and his soul came out victorious. Congratulations Dad. You won. Look down and see your reward. The lives you've changed and people you've impacted so deeply. He was the man. I love him so much." ( Those are Grayson Dolan's true words about his dad, I just edited them a bit to fit this context.)

We were both completely sobbing at this point.

I reached over and grabbed Grayson's hand, "I need you to promise me something."

"Anything El"

I looked straight into his eyes, "I need you to promise me that no matter what happens to us, we keep loving each other, and we push through whatever bullshit that may be happening. I can't afford to lose you, and I love you so much, that I don't ever EVER want to leave your side. Can you promise me that?"

Grayson smiled at me, "Of course I can promise you that, I love you El."

"I love you too Grayson"