Ch. 7 Father to Daughter
"What are you doing here?"
"Get your stuff we have to go."
"What's going on?"
"We'll tell you in the car." Wanting to know she obeyed. In the car Chandler began to drive and it was silent.
"What's going on!"
"While you were at you game something happened at home."
"What?"
Chandler pulled over on the side of the road. "Emma died a half hour ago."
"What!"
"I'm so sorry honey"
"She was fine this morning."
"Her body just gave in." Monica got in back with Nickki; she couldn't handle the last few events. Her body quivered and she collapsed in sadness. Monica comforted her and gestured Chandler to drive.
They reached the house, once inside there was no trace of Emma. Her medical things were already gone, as was her body. Rachel and Ross were huddled on the couch with the rest of the children. Seeing them she ran into her room.
Her room was not as she left it that morning. Emma's bed was neatly made. Her magazines, games, and anything she had used to keep herself occupied the last few weeks were gone. It looked as though they had never shared a room.
Nicole couldn't take in the reality so fast causing her to run outside. The gang witnessed all of it. They could hear her screaming outside.
"I'm going after her."
"Ben, Honey, I think she needs her mother."
"Rach, not to be mean but I think Ross should go."
"What for."
"She needs someone strong, someone who can wrap his arms in a special only Emma could feel, that Nickki needs to now."
The room fell silent and Ross walked outside. Once outside he walked over to Nickki. He put a warm coat around her then he, himself wrapped his arms around her.
"I know this is hard to take right now but-"
"But she's in a better place."
"Yes, but we're going to be okay. I know you can't see it now, neither can I. But we will be okay, someday."
"Was she in pain when she died."
"Not much, her little body just couldn't fight anymore."
"Did you talk to her?"
"Yes, barely. I held her hand until the end and in her last moment I kissed her head and said 'I love you, baby.'"
"How did mom handle it?"
"She was a mess. She sat in my lap holding Emma's and my hand. With Emma's last breath she just collapsed, saying she wanted to die. I've never seen her so upset."
"It's shocking how much you can love someone and not even know it."
"Can I show you something?"
"Sure."
They drove for what seemed like forever, and when they finally stopped it was at an old park. Ross got out and grabbed Nickki's hand.
"Where are we going?"
"You don't remember?"
"No."
Her put his hand in his jacket wiping away snow from a tree. The images started to flood back into her memory. The tree had sayings engraved on it
but one in particular stood out.

Nickki and Emma
Best Friends
My girls
Love Daddy

"She used to love it here."
"I remember."
"You know she'll always love us, and we'll always love her."
"Yea, It's just very hard to except right now, that's all. I mean one moment you're with her then you turn around and she's wiped clean."
"You mean your room."
"Yea."
"Well we figured if you saw all her stuff it might be harder. If you need to see it though, we carefully put it in the attic."
"Why, she should be remembered not forgotten."
"It's just a process of moving on."
"She died an hour ago!"
"I know, I know." He took her into his arms like he did with Emma so many times and they cried, together.