Last Teardrop

Chapter 24: Another Test

Few months passed. I am happy.

But losing Patrick changed a part of me. How I had wished that I’ll be meeting him in another lifetime – when it’s okay to love him and for him to love me back. If I hadn’t met Daniel, I know it’s not difficult to fall in love with Patrick.

Today, I will be meeting Daniel in the mall. It’s our 222nd day together and he told me that we would celebrate it. We decided to watch a movie together.

“I’m going now.” I told my Dad for him to be aware. I don’t usually get a reaction from him.

“Take care.”

I turned, startled about the idea that my father spoke to me for the first time again.

“Dad?”

He turned and walked away. Am I hearing things? The idea still was on my mind until I reached the mall. I saw Daniel and I tried to rub out all the worries and reservations in my mind. I wanted to celebrate this day with the person I love, and I owe it to him to focus on what we have. I’ll be dealing with Dad after today.

We went to grab popcorns. He preferred watching a comedy movie, but I told him we’d watch a romantic film. He didn’t argue. And as I was crying every scene, he would hand me a tissue and hold me tight.

“I am sorry. I get too emotional.” I told him after the movie.

“I’m used to it.” He laughed, --“and it makes me love you more.”

He kissed my forehead. Sometimes, it’s difficult to find the right words to say how thankful I am to have fallen in love with Daniel, and it’s hard to find words to tell him how much he means to me.

I excused myself and went to the CR. As I was staring myself in the mirror, I have witnessed a happy Samantha. I know that life is like an hourglass. Sooner or later, what I have now could reach the bottom, and it might end. But now, I am happy. And I know it’s selfish but for the first time in my life, I know what I wanted and I don’t intend to give this away – my Coke Guy, Daniel.

Suddenly, some girls were already running too fast. As I was finding my way out the comfort room, the crowd began to get out of control. I wondered and went on looking for Daniel. I didn’t know what was happening but I was starting to get nervous.

Daniel was not waiting outside. He must be here somewhere. I need to see him. I have been terrified with my own thoughts. This scene is somewhat familiar. And it scares the hell out of me. My heart was already beating too fast - that feeling that had taken my breath away. I ran and ran. I was calling out his name.

“Daniel! Daniel!”

The mall is on fire! And I remembered how exactly it felt 12 years ago, the same tragedy that caused the life of the most important person I had. It’s scary that no matter what you do and how you do it, the past would keep on hunting you and you have no choice but to run back. It took me a lot of years to move on, and having to go through it all again is just too much.

I was beginning to feel the heat. I need to get out before it’s too late. But I know Daniel won’t be leaving me here. I kept looking around.

“SAM!!”

Someone was calling me. It was Dan’s voice.

“Daniel, call again!”

“Where are you?”

“Right here!”

And I saw him as he was running towards me. He hugged me tight when he reached me.

“Let’s get out of here.”

He was holding me tight while trying to find a way out. There was fog. And I can’t see anything. I was beginning to lose hope, but the only thing that kept me going was the hands connected to mine. I trust Daniel. I remembered mom. Did she ever feel so scared? Because right now, my knees were shaking and I am trembling with fear, but the idea that Daniel will be there to protect me made me feel better. How did mom ever find the courage to face this all alone?

I was getting weak. I think that there was too much smoke that it made me sick. I slowly fainted. I managed to look at Daniel’s face. And everything went black.

I woke up in the hospital bed. And Dad automatically called out the doctor. After telling him that aside from small burns, I am alright – he was relieved.

“My dear Sam…” my dad started crying. “I am sorry for not being able to play my role as a good father to you.”

“Dad.” And I started crying as well. It was one afternoon of drama but I was pleased that it was another start for me and my father.

“All these times, I have been grieving for the loss of your mother, and I didn’t realize that there are other things important that I almost lost too - because I focused on that one thing I know I will never ever gain back. I am sorry Sam for blaming it all to you. I know that for too long, I have been holding on to the memories of your mom, and those memories are worth the pain, because I had believed that holding on will make a person stronger. But oftentimes, it is letting go.”

“Dad, I’m sorry too.”

“I made a choice today to finally let go Sam, because I can’t stand the pain to lose you now more than ever. It’s time for my last tear to fall and smile again.” Dad held my hands. “Sam, will you give daddy a chance?”

“Oh Daddy!” I cried with joy. We are finally okay now. I hugged him tighter than I could imagine. I have been waiting for this my entire life. I am now glad and pleased to be loved truly by two of the most important men in my life – my Dad and Daniel.

Daniel.

I was dumbfounded for a while. Yes, where is he?? I moved away from my Dad and looked at him.

“Dad, where’s Daniel?”

“Daniel - the kid who saved your life?”

Saved my life? Probably! Because he is the last person I remember before I passed out. I nodded and looked at him again.

“He’s in the operating room. He had too much burns. And he absorbed too much smoke.”

---“The doctor said that she absorbed too much smoke and that her body couldn’t take it. WE lost her. At 6, I didn’t know what to do.”

I remembered what Patrick told me before. They lost Maelyn in that way, could it be that I’ll lose Daniel too? And in that dark hospital room, my tears flowed while my heart was tearing into pieces. No, not again this time. I’ll be fighting for my Daniel.