YOUR HEART KNOWS IT

PART 8

Lillian,

I am not sure which one hurts me the most the fact that you went away before me or the truth that sooner or later I'll be with you and we will leave our daughter, our precious Leslie into this world of unknown.

Earlier we were about to leave for mass, but there was a knock on the door so she went to check who it was. When I heard my brother's voice I was ecstatic, the thought of him coming here to see me made me strong enough to help myself down the stairs. But my love I was wrong, he wasn't here for me, it was all for money. Leslie asked him to step outside and I never heard what he meant to say but at that moment I got petrified, what does money do to a man?

David, Daphne, and I were all seated in the staff dining room. It was half-past one and we're all taking a break from the busy hours of the restaurant.

"You should have rested for another day," David said as he was taking a sip of his coffee.

"It was just migraine, I am fine no need to worry," I said while I put honey on my lemongrass drink.

"But it usually lasts three days for you" these two really know me the most they have seen how I can be on my worse headaches. Some times when accompanied by fever and flu it gets much worse and lasts longer than five days.

"Well it didn't this time," I said. I noticed that Daphne who's seating across from me was silent the whole time. So I kicked her chair and from the looks of it she woke up from a daydream.

"Honey, what's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing, " she reluctantly said.

"If you're thinking about what happened earlier don't stress yourself on it. That's fine and it wasn't your fault"

"Of course it is her fault, " this time I kicked David's leg

"Ouch! What was that for?" he pulled back his chair further where I can't reach him. I gave him the stare while he faked massage knee.

"I know and I'm sorry," she said, her head bowed down eyes looking blankly on the floor.

"I'm kidding it wasn't your fault silly," David said in a cheerful tone and I can't help but smile at both of them thinking what an astounding trio we are!

"That kid should take good manners seriously though if one of my twins has the audacity to do that to me in the future I'll whip her butt out"

"Heyy that's too harsh," Daphne said.

"I'm only joking besides that will never happen, well thanks to my wife anyway"  We all laughed at the inside joke he said. All of us know how Cynthia can be frightening at times.

"I'm sorry again for what happened Rachel. It came out of nowhere, I had no idea she'll display that kind of attitude but Clover can be a sweet girl if you get to know her you see" Daphne said in a defending tone.

"You know I am really curious as to why you're putting so much effort for this kid, I mean I know how passionate you can be with your work but this one is a little bit different and it's not because you know them it's something else" I want to force her to tell me what's more to this than knowing them but I decided not to.
I trust it she'll tell me whenever she feels so. Daphne lately isn't in her usual self, and though she tries to hide it I know. I just know. Which prompted me of what I've been feeling uneasy about since this morning.

"Honey, can I see your arm for a minute?" She tensed while David raised an eyebrow. So I stood up from my seat and pulled her arm, she flinched when I forced to unzip her jacket and that made me even more certain.

"Alright, I'll do it" she obligatory took off her garment silently like she regrets moving the meeting to today.

I gasped! Even with the shirt on, you could easily tell that it's not just a simple bruise. I rolled her sleeve further to her armpit and I was flabbergasted. From her elbow, all the way to her shoulder was a mark in bluish-purple color and some spots were even blackish by now so I guess this was just recent and to think that we were together yesterday at my apartment made me even angrier that while she was trying to make me feel better I was not aware that she needed it more than me.

"He's beating you again isn't he?!" she tried to open her mouth but I waved my hand.

"Don't even dare lie to us!" I furiously said.

"Where is that man right now?! I thought I gave him enough lessons the last time!" David jolted up from his seat, he was enraged, who wouldn't? Nobody deserves to be beaten like this! Nobody! Not anyone and most especially not Daphne! She deserves better than this.

"Please, " she said.  I looked at her with disbelief. Is she really gonna defend that man again?

"Please don't" she was now holding David's arm, crying and maybe that's what made him taken aback because for the first time in a long while we see Daphne crying again.

We watch her cry her eyes out in her seat both of us not knowing what to do next. I stood there thinking how useless of a friend I am, I myself aren't good in this kind of situations.

David's alarm saved us from a scene that we are all not experts in. He went back to the kitchen first not saying anything and I can't blame him for that. Thirty minutes of break felt longer than I expected it to be and it feels like I got more tired thinking of what I should say or do for Daphne.