I Need You

47. The painful smile 🙃

"I know who killed Aaron" he says when I get into the car. But I just keep looking at the road. How did I miss seeing the cars parked here.

"Mia I am speaking to you" he raises his voice loud this time. "He is dead. Aaron is dead. Stop waiting for a dead person and enjoy your life. You don't need to be in his place. You are just putting yourself into soo much mess and you are gonna kill yourself one day too." he just keeps shouting. This time I don't care. I am not going to listen to what he says. I am not ready for anyone who tells that Aaron is dead. My heart is not able to accept it.

"I know dad. I know that it's Henry and I know there is still someone I need to find. And this isn't only for Aaron. I am trying to find the person who killed my brother, who tried to kill my friend, me and then my boyfriend. I ain't letting him any near to my nephew" I say looking outside. These were the roads I and Aaron were before he left. I miss him so badly.

"I said he is dead. Why are you waiting for the dead person" he shouts over his voice this time. I just stay silent. Even I don't know why I am still waiting for him and why I still believe he is alive. It's been 4 months and we still don't have any sign of him. Is he gone for real. Will he never come back. Why isn't my heart not able to accept this. I know he is still breathing somewhere.

"Drop me at Em's" I say looking at the road. He just sighs in disbelief and stays silent. I am grateful for staying silent for the rest of the drive. I can't argue with him anymore. I don't have answers for his questions. I don't know where Aaron is, when he will come back or why I am still holding onto his position and protecting it.

When he pulls the car in the driveway, I open the door to get down and give one final glance in his direction. His eyes are cold and icy. He is being different these days, or is he been like this always. There are faint scars on his elbow and neck. I want to ask him about them, but silence is better for us now.

Aunt Lisa opens the door for me. She greets me with a sweet smile and a warm hug. The smell of the cookies hits my nostrils and my mood enlightens. She senses my feelings and smiles hard. She bakes the best cookies and I have always been a big fan of her food. 

Ethan is playing on the floor and Pixie runs to him to lick his face. I am so happy to see Ethan. He surely is my mood lifter. I just pick him up and hold him tight in my arms. He always keeps holding my pinky finger and he plays with my hair. I give him a forehead kiss and put him down to help aunt Lisa with the  food. 

She pushes the tray towards me and I frost them with the cream before me. Aaron used to do this. He loves  doing this. He used to make different shapes and put the leftover cream on my face. He used to say that he loved doing that. 

Aunt Lisa pats my shoulder and gives me an understanding smile. I feel tears pooling up in my eyes. But I just let them stop there. "You know what Damon and Em are official now" I say with an excited tone. I have been waiting for this to happen for soo long. And even aunt Lisa. I can see the emotion in her eyes. She is happy for them. She could finally see her daughter happy.

"Ahh is that the reason she is soo happy today. I see. She left Ethan with me and went out. mmm" she says and winks at me. A forceful smile appears on my face. And it hurts soo much. Even smiling is hurting me. 

I am happy that all my friends found their happiness. Damon is with Em, Dylan with Olivia, Claire with Stephen , Suzy with Noah and I hope Klaus and Evelyn will get along. I can see that they are happy around each other. Klaus told me that he could be him around her and he is happy for that. He allows very few people into his life and I happy that he is letting Evelyn in. It's the same with Evelyn. She is falling hard for him. It's being hard for me to stop them from seeing each other. It's not that I want to stop them, but I don't want her to get involved into the shit we are involved in.

A trade of hearts in my group is good. Everyone knows everyone and I am happy for that. Rick is the only person who isn't with us from the starting and all are happy to welcome him into the group. He is getting along well. 

Ally gave birth to a baby boy and he looks soo pretty like her. Danny is still unconscious, but the doctor said he will be fine when he wakes up. 

I have got everything to make me happy. But just one smile and one tear is soo hard for me. 

I see Damon and Em coming in. But the expression on their faces is unreadable. Pity, anger, shock, sadness every single emotion could be found on their faces. I get up from the stool to meet them halfway. Whatever it is I don't want aunt Lisa to know it if it is bad.

We three stand in the garden and they keep looking at their faces. They look like they are weighing up their options to tell me. 

"Just spit it out" I say looking at them. They both turn to me and nod.

"I- I- th" Em stutters. Damon reaches her arm and soothes it. If it was a different situation, I would have enjoyed this sight.

"I think it's your father" she finally says.