SUMMARY: In the past, Donna decided to take a picture of sophie, when finding out her baby girl could br dying. In the present, Mother and Daughter take a look trough some old pictures,while rememberingva few good and bad memories of their lives.
DSCWin and QueenSheridan, thanks for the help and support.
THE PHOTOGRAPH
Just a few days after Sophie turned 1-year old, as Donna wrote to Rosie and Tanya, the little girl became real sick, red spots erupted in her skin, she couldn´t stop cough and throwing up, every time Donna give her something to eat.
Worried than, Donna decided to take the little girl to the doctors, to find out what was wrong with her, but the doctors couldn't find anything. Sure, they suggested some animal bite and send her home with an antibiotic, no avail.
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For the next week, Donna made sure no harm was coming to her daughter, she kept Sophie most time in her room, protected by any kind of animal that could have hurt her. Still, the baby´s condition doesn´t improved, as time passed by, Sophie was getting weaker and weaker, she got a high fever that doesn´t seems to pass, no matter how Donna tried to make her feel better.
One day, Old Lady Sofia came for a visit and found Donna sitting on her rocking chair, with a sleeping Sophie in her arms, the girl was pale, and her mother was even more pale, due worry and lack of sleep, when the old woman approach.
''honey-mou, how is this precious angel?'' she asked
''no good'' Donna sniffed looking at Sophie who was breathing heavily.
''let´s take her to the doctor at the Main Land, he will know what to do'' the old woman suggested, and Donna nodded, not knowing what to do anymore.
The trip toward the Main Land was completely silence, except for the occasional sounds of people speaking and the ferry's working engine. During the whole trip, Donna didn't say a word, she just keep looking at her ailing daughter in her arms, not wanting to voice her thoughts, in fear of them became true.
Once in there, they rush toward the hospital, but for Donna´s despair and due her lateness to find a doctor, they said they couldn´t do much, however, to easy her heart, they decided to keep Sophie at the hospital for the night, to see what they could do about it.
Next day however, after seen her daughter suffering trough the huge amount of tests the doctors give her, Donna woke up with a determinate look and demanded to take her daughter home right away.
''honey-mou'' Old Lady Sofia got worry ''I know you want to protect your baby, but I think this time, we should keep her here, is safer''
''I understand'' Donna managed to smile ''but…if I'm about to lose the only important thing in my life, at least I want to keep close to her, when she goes'' Donna explain and Old Lady Sofia had to agree, even if she disagrees.
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The way back to Kalokairi, was a bit more ''cheerful'' than the previous day, as Donna tried to convince herself she hadn´t committed a mistake and keep talking with Sophie and Old Lady Sofia about other stuff.
As they arrived at the docks, the old lady spotted a photographer, taking pictures of the tourists around and ask Donna if she wanted to take a picture with Sophie, who has fallen sleep again, due her high fever.
It was a cute picture actually, despite of her tearful face, Donna tried to smile the best she could, while adjusting a very agitated Sophie in her lap.
''this way, I can have you forever, my little darling'' she whispered in Sophie´s hair, embracing her, with all her strength.
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Later that night, Donna keep vigil besides her daughter´s crib, praying for some miracle, so her daughter could live. She promised the earth and heaven, her own life, if the baby could pass the night.
Two weeks later, as if a miracle did actually happened, a very happy and healthy Sophie, was running around the house, as if her illness never had occurred.
23-year old Sophie made her way to the cottage her mother and Stepfather was sharing since their wedding three years ago, just to find Donna sitting on the floor of the main room, with a bunch of photo albums scattered around her. Sam was nowhere to be seen, so Sophie supposed he went for the Main Land for a meeting.
''Mom'' Sophie called, seeing the old woman seating on the cold floor ''Mom!'' she called again, but Donna doesn´t seemed to notice her daughter approaching ''Mom, are you okay?'' Sophie touched Donna´s shoulder and in response, the old woman almost jumped.
''oh, hi honey'' Donna smiled at Sophie with tired eyes. Today was her first round of Chemo and while Sam was away, she decided to took time and look at some photos.
''mom, what you doing in the floor?'' Sophie asked worried
''oh, nothing, I couldn´t sleep and decided to look trough some pictures'' she said ''you know, cancer let you a bit nostalgic'' she tried to laugh and Sophie frown.
''come on, Mom, let me help you to the bed, you need to rest''
''Soph, stop it'' the old woman got angry ''I will have my time to rest later…'' she started, but changed the subject quick ''now, how about a cup of tea? Sam went to the Main Island to have a meeting with some hotel manager, we could spend time together''
''you guys are really insisting in hire a manager? Mom, what´s the matter of the 'I take care of this' thing? We don´t need a manager'' Sophie tried not to laugh.
''well, honey, we could try, listen, despite of everything, I'm not getting any younger and I don´t want you to dedicate your whole life to this hotel…sure, it´s our home and it´s always be our home, but if we have some help taking care of it, will be fun, right? We could spend or time, doing other things''
''yeah, maybe'' Sophie agreed ''so, you´re looking at pictures? May I join you?'' she asks and in response, Donna just rolled her eyes.
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For the next half hour, mother and daughter keep looking through pictures and laughing at the memories, when suddenly Sophie picked up a black and white photo, of her and her mother, in front of the docks.
''you told me once about this picture'' Sophie said ''you said a got sick…it´s a bit ironic, I had smallpox, or something and now you…'' she said, and Donna give her a hard look
''you learn a lot in just one semester of medical school?!'' the mother said ''what you had, doesn't matter now Sophie, it was one of the worst days of my life, I thought I would lose you'' she sniffed ''I prayed that day, to God take me instead of you… at least he gives me some time, huh?''
''mom, what the…'' Sophie grab her mother´s hand
''I think I will accept the offer for a rest'' she said ''could you help me here honey?'' Donna asked, and Sophie helped her.
''I'm home…'' Sam´s voice echoed from the porch
''oh, welcome!'' Donna teased him, for a moment forgetting her tiredness
''hey Papa'' Sophie greet him
''how are my ladies?'' he asked ''Sophie, I passed by the hotel and Sky was looking for you''
''I told him I was going to stay with mom while you were away''
''we´re fine. So, how was the meeting? You talked to the candidate?'' Donna asked
''yep'' Sam agree ''his name is Fernando Cienfuegos, he have a great resume, I liked him and ask if he could come to visit us this weekend'' Sam smiled
''good idea'' both mother and daughter agreed.
''so, you two are looking photographs? I still need to organize my older ones''
''you already did, sweetheart'' Donna laugh ''you have a favorite one?''
''I have a few'' he said ''I like pictures, but it´s kind of make me sad looking at them. You have favorite picture?''
''we´re just talking about that…'' Donna said showing Sam the one that could be Sophie´s last one ''this picture have a great deal in our lives, but isn´t my favorite at all, my favorite is that one I showed you the other day, of Sophie dressed as a cowgirl''
''Mom, don´t remember that day, please'' Sophie blushed, and both Sam and Donna laugh
''that one'' Donna remarked ''followed by the ones of our unexpected wedding''
''well I have one as well'' the girl pointed out searching the photographs on the box and picking upa large one, of herself and Sky, surrounded by Donna, Sam, Bill and Harry, at her birthday last year. ''it was a shame Aunt Rosie and Aunt Tanya couldn´t make it, but it was one of the best days of my life, because I had my whole family with me.'' She said with a smile, hugging both her parents, happy to have them there, as long as time allowed.
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A few years later, Sophie also decided to take a picture with her own child, in the same style, but for a totally different reason; this time, was just to make sure that the 'Sheridan´s legacy' just keep going on and on.
THE END