"You're... my dad?" she asked in disbelief.
"I am?" The younger Danny looked startled.
Of course, the boy in the mirror looked just like her father. She could see the resemblance. But, no, she didn't want to think about it. Right now, thinking hurt.
She put her hand on the glass in front of her, "Yes... you are." Suddenly, light a light bulb, an idea sparked in her mind. Maybe she could make it right. She looked him in the face.
"Could you remember something for me?" she choked on the words. " Write something down? A date?...A note?"
All at once, he was grabbing at his pockets, searching for some paper, a pen. "Sure."
Tears formed in her eyes. She gave him the date, then it was like a dam had burst, and the words just poured out of her. "Daddy, I love you. And I didn't mean for this to happen! I just thought I could deal with him myself, and I couldn't! And apparently, neither could you... and I'm so sorry! I just couldn't stop... and then he... and you.. I'm sorry, it was all my fault, and you had a right to be mad." The tears spilled over now as she closed her eyes. "All my fault. I'm sorry."
He was staring at her. "Who are you?"
"Your daughter! Thalia!"
And, suddenly, he knew. And she knew he knew. And he said, "I know." And it was all okay. It felt as if a burden had been lifted off her shoulders, and she smiled in relief as she looked in his eyes. And he smiled back. Then she blinked, and he was gone. And she saw only her own reflection. And in the backround...
She ran to him, hoping beyond all hope that he was still alive. "Daddy." No answer.
And she cried, right there, curled up next to her fathers corpse. He was dead. All because of her.
And then he moaned.
"Daddy?" His hand reached for something in his coat. Something old. From the past. She brought out a piece of paper. It looked like it had been written by a teenager, in sloppy writing. She tried hard to read. It was a note. Hastily written.
Today's date.
She looked at his face. His eyes were open. And he was smiling at her.
"Please don't blame yourself, that won't do you any good, because it really wasn't your fault." she opened her mouth to object, but he pressed a weak finger to her lips. "I love you, too."
She sighed, and lied her head on his chest. "I know."
I know.