The Love of a Stranger

The Comfort Of Company

Ten minutes after the call I decided to have a walk myself depsite the fact that it was nearly midnight, nothing like a good walk to clear your mind, and maybe if I was lucky I would run into Dan. Going into the Autumn season the depressing changes to the weather began to become increasingly noticeable; the temperature began to rapidly drop, the evening gale picked up and not forgetting the occasional shower that would soak you to the bone. Just as I set off into the tenebrous night, the rain had calmed down to a gentle drizzle coating my skin with little droplets of rain satisfyingly alleviating my stress. During my walk, I began to think like never before, like I had suddenly turned into a philosopher. The future was one of the main topics I'd think about; how I'd sort it all out, how it will end up, will I still be with Dan or not...or if things go completely wrong, will I still be alive. It was obvious to me that the cause to my stress all my problems was my mum and I couldn't make that any more obvious, she made me feel totally empty inside like I was never - or will be - loved, she'd even make me question my existence in life. I needed a way out of the dark abyss that I have been held prisoner for all my life, waking up every morning dreading to face the next day. For a while I thought that Dan had been my remedy putting a smile on my face everytime I saw him, he made me feel welcome to be a part of life, but now I fear I've lost him, and if I have...I've lost everything.

I came by an empty park bench underneath the big oak tree that sheltered the bench from the rain making it a suitable place for me to sit. I needed desperate help which meant I needed more people to be aware of my situation and my mum, but right now I was lacking confidence in myself doubting that anyone would want to listen. Even though the police were already on the case and on the look-out for my murderer of a mother I still felt like they weren't trying, excusing themselves from the job because who they were protecting was only a small, timid girl who's life was three quarters of the way of being compeltely ruined, so what was the point? Cathy was right when she said that all I ever do is ruin lives: Jack's, Dan's, Cathy's, my mother's and possibly my own, if only I hadn't of been such a hassle as a child none of this would've never of happened. I blamed myself for absolutely everything.

The music of the local pub that was situated across me roared everytime the door opened. I caught a glimpse of the energetic people inside enjoying themselves, drinking, dancing, singing and many more things I beame a spectator to. I used to be like that, such as the night of Dan's party that I had somehow found the energy to organise, I danced the night away drinking for fun rather than drinking out of stress, on old habit that I used to have and now a habit that I have possible picked up again.

A stranger beside me sighed as he sat down with his labrador sitting patiently infront of him, one paw on his knee. The man seemed tired out, breathing heavily through his mouth. He caught my eye and I naturally smiled, he returned the gesture.

"Weathers lovely isn't it?" he chuckled. As rude as it seemed I didn't reply, just nodded my head returning my gaze to my hands that I was fiddling with.

"Couldn't help but to see you sitting alone on a night like this. Thought I'd join you." He told me.

"Sure." I simply said. I wasn't in the mood for company, but who knows, it could do me good. I couldn't quite make out his features as the evening darkness cloaked his face, but I could tell he was an older man, maybe late 50's.

"I'm Mark and this is Bailey, my dog." He announced as he offered his hand for me to shake, I took it gratefully. What a coincidence, my father's called Mark.

"Laura." I replied, this man seems awfully nice. I greeted the dog by gently patting it on the head which it seemed to enjoy, sweeping its tail left to right across the ground.

"Ah, Laura. Beautiful name. I have a daughter called Laura, but I haven't seen her in a very long time."

It's too much of a coincedence to not be true. I knew it from the moment he said those words, that the very man sitting next to me, was my father. Little did he know, that he was sitting next to his daughter.

"What was your daughter like?" I mischeviously asked just making sure that it was him, and I was also curious of what his opinion of me was.

"From the 16 years I lived with her I could tell she was quiet and very mysterious, you look quite like her actually, she was a very pretty young woman. She left home when she was 16 and from then on, I never saw her again. I worry about her constantly. Do you ever worry about someone so much it makes you sick?"

My attempt to avoid quivering lips and runny noses failed, it was too much for me to handle. It was definately him. All these years I spent living away from my father thinking that I was just another truant, has really been thinking and worrying about me.

"All the time..." I replied. "Dad."

At first he questioned me, giving me an uncertain look, then he squinted his eyes getting a proper look at me. After a minute, he was convinced and a smile spread across his face, glad that after 8 years he's finally found his only daughter.

"Oh Laura..." He sighed nearly giving up on holding back the tears. He wrapped his arm around me pulling me into a fatherly hug, it's good to know I still have some family that cares about me.

A/n: Hey guys! What do you think? I liked writing this chapter and I've been wanting to publish it for a while now. I've also just published another chapter of my other fanfic so check it out and see what you think. Thanks again for all the reads and comments!