You Melt My Heart

Episode 16

*Arissa get discharged from the hospital*

*James' residence*

I'm back. To the one place I swore I'll never come back to.

*maid rolls in Arissa's luggage*

"You can give that to me. I can do it myself."

*Arissa takes her luggage and goes up the stairs back into her old room*

*Arissa opens the door and takes a look around*

*maid walks in*

"Excuse me. Do you guys clean in here as well?"

*maid lowers her head*

"Yes, ma'am. Madame James often tells us to clean it. In case you ever came back. The bed sheets had been newly washed. We left it just how it was before you left."

*maid leaves*

They had them clean it for me? They must really want me to come back? I unpacked my luggage and placed my clothes in my big walk in closet. I looked in the closet and saw a box I had stored when I was in high school. I had to take a look after seeing it.

*Arissa grabs the box and sit on the ground*

I looked through the box. There were a bunch of old pictures of me and Fiona when we were little. There were photos of my dad and I. I got to the bottom of the box and found a note. The rim of the paper was laced. I picked it up and on the paper, it wrote...

"The sun may not shine bright for you. Take this bouquet, I hope it will brighten up your day."

I remember this note. It was given to me by someone anonymous. That day, was the first time I attempted running away. It was the day after my father's funeral ended. I was devastated and I had no one there to comfort me. I ran to a rundown shop and sat there. It had started raining so I hid for shelter. I was crying my heart out and and cuddled myself for warmth and comfort. Then someone handed me a bouquet of flowers and this note. I didn't see who this person was.

*Arissa gets up and opens a drawer in her closet*

*Arissa grabbed two ribbons*

The pink laced ribbon was used to wrap the bouquet of flowers given to me on that rainy day. The blue ribbon with gold outline was when I found a beautiful bouquet of flowers lying on the ground. There were the initials ZB sewed on the ribbons. I never found out who this person was.  ZB must be the person who gave me the flowers and the flowers on the ground. I put the ribbons in the box and put the box back on the top shelf.

*mom walks in*

"Ari. How do you like the room? I kept it cleaned for you. I was hoping this day will come, and it did."

I wish I could say I'm fine, but looking back at this room, I remember when I would come in here everyday and cry.

"Thank you for keeping it cleaned for me."

*Arissa walks the door*

*mom stops her*

"Where are you going?"

I needed a breather.

"I'm going outside. I need some fresh air."

*Arissa goes outside*

It feels better to be outside than inside. My backyard was ginormous. It had a water fountain that shoots out water so high. It was boring here and lonely. If I didn't come back, my mom and grandpa will never get off my back.

*Adam walks over to Arissa*

"Hey Arissa, how are you doing?"

I saw Adam come over and I didn't feel upset or annoyed. I'm actually glad it was Adam that came.

"I'm sorry Adam, for earlier at the hospital. I know you wanted to speak with me today but today took a turn instead."

*Adam chuckled and gestures a sit on the bench*

*Arissa and Adam sit on the bench with space in between*

"Arissa, I know you're not full healed yet so I won't keep you for too long. I'll cut to the chase. I heard everything you and your mom said that day I was at the hospital."

*Arissa face dropped*

"You did?"

*Adam chuckled*

"I did and I wanted to tell you a story. Before I married your mom, I had a family too. I had a wife and a daughter named Riley. My wife was never home so I took care of Riley for the both of us. One day, Riley had a stomach ache and collapsed. I took her to the hospital and found out that she had a tumor. At that time, I was poor and couldn't afford surgery for my daughter. About a month later, she passed away. Before she passed away, she said she wanted to see her mom. She held out for the longest she could, but her mom never came. I was so mad at her mom that I left her. If Riley was still here, she would've been right about the same age as you are now. I met your mom a couple years later, after the incident. I truly liked your mom and when I found out that she had a daughter, I was suddenly so happy. When I married your mom, before you had ran out, I was going to announce you as my very own daughter. When I heard about what you said to your mom, I realized how similar you and I were. When I first decided to regard you as my daughter, I didn't think it was replacing Riley but as my second daughter. You don't have to call me dad but when you need someone to talk to like a fatherly figure, I'll be there for you kiddo."

I didn't know what to say. I was really happy for some reason. If I do so, am I replacing dad?

*mom and grandpa walk towards Adam and Arissa inviting them for dinner*

*they all go inside for dinner*