I sat at the kitchen table, the rest of my family shouting over each other claiming they knew what he wanted. None of them did. It was just a competition now. Who he loved most. If he could see them he would shout louder than all of them and tell them to stop being idiots and act their age. If I told them that I'd just get ignored, like always.
I looked up at Daniel and sighed, he furrowed his eyebrows and put my hand in his, rubbing his thumb across my hand. He was just as lost as me on what to do. There was no reasoning with my family, they're the most stubborn people you could meet. I stared down at the photo album I'd gotten out, we still needed to decide on a photo to show. I flicked through the pages, reliving all the memories we'd shared together. There were barely any photos with him and his family. Just me and him, a couple with my mum in too. Towards the back of the book there were some with Daniel in too.
I felt bad for Daniel, it was a horrible situation in general but my family were making it much worse and an excessively uncomfortable atmosphere to be in. He got on well with my dad and I knew he was upset too, but it wasn't fair for him to be thrown into the middle of all of it. I clenched my fists as the arguing continued, getting louder and more pointless by the minute.
"Will you guys just shut the fuck up!" I shouted, the room falling silent. Everyone looked just as shocked as I did about the outburst. "Do you think this is what he wanted? For all of you arguing, making a contest over who he loved most. Because I'm sorry to break the news but it's none of you! There are more photos of Dad and Daniel that the rest of you put together! And we've only been dating a year! You guys don't care about him because you wouldn't be acting like a bunch of fucking children." I closed the photo album and got up from the table, I shoved the album into my Uncle Jerry's chest.
"Just pick a photo... I'll organise the rest otherwise he'll be carried in a bloody cardboard box at this rate." I snapped before leaving the room and walking into the back garden. I walked to the end and sat on the small tree swing my dad made for me when I was little. I swung gently, tears falling from my eyes, dampening my trousers.
"Why'd you have to leave?" I whispered to myself looking up at the clouds. "We should've had so much more time. Why didn't you fight it?" I took a deep breath, trying to stop further tears from escaping. I jumped as I felt something on my leg. I looked down to see Daniel knelt in front of me, resting his hand on my knee. He used his thumb to brush away a tear that was travelling down my cheek.
"That was amazing babe, I don't think anyone's put them in their place like that before." I opened my mouth to respond but a small sob was all that came out. Daniel reached out his arms and picked me up, placing me into his lap before wrapping his arms around me tightly. "It's okay baby, just let it all out," he whispered, rubbing my back in circular motions. I rested my head in the crook of his neck and cried until there were no tears left. Daniel held me tight, he'd alternate between kissing the side of my head and whispering comforting words.
"He'd be so proud of you baby girl. You're so strong, stronger than all of them lot. I know it seems so hard right now, that the whole world just seems miserable and pointless but I promise you it will get better at some point. I may not be for a while but I'm here to help every step of the way. I know I haven't been in your place but I will do my best to support you." Another sob escaped my throat as I held onto his shirt tightly.
"That's meant to make you smile not cry."
"They're happy tears," I said, looking him in his beautiful doe eyes. "I love you Daniel. Thank you for being so amazing through this. I know it's tough to put up with but I really appreciate it."
"I'm not putting up with anything darling. I just wanna look after my girl and support her through the tough times as well as the amazing parts. I love you (Y/N)."
"I love you too Daniel."
We sat cuddled in the garden for a while longer before we decided it was best to go back inside. Everyone else had gone, the photo album set on the table with a picture laid on top of it. I sat down and picked up the photo, a small smile creeping onto my face. It was my dad and I last Christmas, sitting on the sofa in the most hideous jumpers we could find. My smile began to wobble as it set in my head that I'd never get to experience that again. Daniel placed two mugs of tea on the table and sat down next to me, peering over at the photo.
"That was a lovely day." I nodded and placed the photo down, picking up the tea and taking a sip.
"I was expecting them to pick a horrendous blurry one. Should I be in the photo though? Would it not be better to have him on his own?"
"They picked it because it's your dad with the person he loved most in this world. I think it's the perfect photo for him to be remembered."
I slipped my hand into his and we sat there for the rest of the night and flicked through the album, me telling him the stories behind each photo. My dad may be gone but I would make sure his memory lives on forever.
