I wake up, it's Monday morning, my next treatment is on Thursday, so I have 3 days to just chill. My mom calls to check up on me, and tells me she will come visit this afternoon, I tell her to come as late as possible because Maya is visiting straight after school. I can't have them here at the same time, I have more questions about Kai, and I know for a fact that Maya has some drama to tell me.
Breakfast this morning is at least better than yesterdays, it's cornflakes and orange juice. I switch my laptop on and search "Kai Grayson," a lot of Kai's pop up but not the one I'm looking for. So I give up and change my search to "Samuel Grayson," he doesn't come up either, I don't know Mr Graysons first name so I go ahead and search "Lorenzo Grayson," it was almost as hopeless as the other three, but then I notice a video with a man that is the same complexion and build as Lorenzo. I click on the video, and it takes me to a locked website which requires a password to access. Why would the video even come up if the website isn't accessible? And if that is Lorenzo, why is he in a video on a locked website? I have so many questions and no one to answer them. But I don't let that stop me, I decide to search the name of the website "Fly or Fall," what does that even mean? I search it on the internet and things like birds, airplanes, helicopters etc, come up but nothing that explains what the website could be about.
As curious as I am, I shouldn't be trying to get involved in business that doesn't concern me. I go out of the internet, close my lap top and pull out my notepad and pens. It's time to start the letters for my package, I know you're probably wondering why bother writing letters when I'm making videos as well. Well, firstly, I'm a total sucker for the whole communication by letters tradition, it's so pure, and secondly, in the far future, which one sounds better, someone stumbling across a USB and finding a laptop that can take a USB port because who knows, it's the far future, maybe laptops will have more advanced technologies without plug in ports, or someone stumbling across a beautifully written letter, reading it where they found it and remembering who wrote it, and how that person made them feel. I don't know about you but I think the letter thing sounds a whole lot better.
The letters will contain a message from me to them now, their purpose is to ease insecurities and reaffirm their roles in my life, the videos will be from me now to them in the future when they reach certain milestones, for example, when Chloe graduates from high school ,when Jason gets married, when Maya starts university etc. Those are messages they need to see me give face to face, but I'm starting with the letters and the person I'm starting with is my dad, this is going to sound really mean but even though I love him, he is the easiest to say goodbye to in my family. Chloe is my precious little sister, Jason is the definition of my laughter, my mom is my role model and my other half and Maya is my best friend. My dad is my first love, number 1 supporter and protector, there's no mushy stuff involved there.I pick up my notepad in my left hand and a black pen in my right hand and start writing,
Hey there dad, If you're reading this, I must be in a different place now, don't you dare worry about me, I'm okay, I'm happy, I'm with grandpa, and Johnny, you remember Johnny? Our dog that died, he was a protector just like grandpa was. I'm in great hands dad. I need you to remember that wherever I am, I will ALWAYS be my daddys little girl, you taught me how to be strong, you showed me how to be who I am, you molded me into the person I turned out to be. We've had our ups and downs, but no matter what, you never ever stopped having my back. You were patient with me, you never raised your voice at me like mom did, you understand me in ways no one else ever could. You are the person who made me feel like I could do and be anything and anyone I wanted to be. If I had the choice, I'd choose to be your daughter, every time. You made me feel safe in a world that wanted to kill me, you made me believe that it's possible to live my life how I wanted to live it.
You're the reason I never gave up dad. I hope I'm the reason you never give up, not on yourself, not on family, not on life. I know I don't even need to ask you to make Chloe feel safe the way you made me feel safe because you will, because your coffee mug doesn't lie, you are the worlds greatest dad. All I want is for you to find peace and be happy.
Goodbye dad, I will love you for an eternity.
your daughter, Avery.
PS Michael Jackson says hi.
With tears racing down my cheeks, I fold the letter in half, slip it into an envelope, seal it and write "#1 Dad" on the front.
I'm just sitting on the bed now, staring blankly into space, feeling the weight of the most painful goodbye ever. It's only this painful because I know by the time he reads this, it's the last goodbye and I'll never get to say hello again.
"Knock knock," a nurse says opening my door, so I quickly scramble and shove everything into my bag, wait a minute, that's not a nurse...
"Kai? How did you find me?"
"Stalker, remember?" he says pointing at his face.
"I thought it was protector," I say making air quotes around "protector."
"Same toilet paper, different shit." I don't even know what that means but that is not the important part.
"What are you doing here???" I ask in a slightly churlish manner.
"Well, I was visiting my aunt so I thought I'd stop by and bring you this..." He pulls out a container with waffles inside, a can of whipped cream and syrup, then he adds, "Don't worry I know you're supposed to be eating healthy because you're in hospital, that is why I broughtttt..." he says reaching into his bag about to pull something out, "STRAWBERRIES!" He exclaims with such enthusiasm, showcasing the strawberries like I just won a brand new car, I laugh at his clownery, this has to be my favourite side of him.
He then pulls a white glass plate out of his bag and sets it down on the side table, he then, becomes very focused as he puts it all together, I must admit he did a very good job because when he presents it to me on the plate, it looks very aesthetic.
"Why are you doing all this ?" I can't help but wonder why the hell this boy would go through so much trouble for a girl who seems to annoy the shit out of him.
"Well you said the hospital breakfast sucks didn't you?" Thank god the bowl of empty cornflakes is covered and he is paying no attention to it whatsoever.
"Yes I did but-"
"So I brought you a breakfast that doesn't suck, unless you have a deep hatred for waffles, just say thank you and eat the damn waffles." Ahhhh, there's the Kai I know so well.
"Thank you Kai, you better be careful though or else I'm gonna start to think you actually like being around me," I say just before taking my first bite of these amazing looking waffles.
"You're absolutely right, I wouldn't want you to mislead you," he says with a grin, taking a seat at the foot of my bed. I can't even focus on whatever he just said, I have never had waffles that taste like this before.
"These are AMAZING," I say stuffing my mouth with a large piece of waffle.
"I sure hope so, I made them myself." I stop mid chewing, in absolute shock,
"You? Made this? Like from scratch?" I say with my mouth full of food.
"Correct," he says.
"Colour me impressed."
YOU ARE READING
Salient Secret
ספרות נוערA teenage girl living in a world that wants her dead. She's not afraid to die but she's afraid to live. She gets stuck with a life she didn't ask for. Her new life comes with an epic love story, but will that be enough to save her from herself...
