Here it is! Finally! The next chapter of "Had Our Paths Crossed Before".
We finally get to read some of Diane's reflections about her father's death.
The reason it took so long to finish was because I originally planned to do a chapter from Sam's days in college first and then Diane's day at home. But I just had the urge to write this first. And therefore I switched it around.
I think this is the most important too…
As always I'd like to hear what you think! I sincerely hope it was worth "some" of the wait (especially referring to KitKat; probably the biggest fan of this fic).
I thank you for your support and I apologize for the waiting!
She was faced with the moment, she had so desperately tried to avoid (or enjoyed not being in)…
Being left on her own. Being alone. No one was there to take her mind off it. His death. It was expected, but still sudden in some way. She still hadn't reached that point in the whole grieving progress where you realize that he's gone. Forever. Why? Because she had barely received the news and really coped with it before Sam came to her rescue? She hadn't forgotten about his death. Not at all. She was far from okay. But the fact that there had been someone there…someone who wasn't a relative or Bogs for that matter, but Sam, that seemed to have made all the difference. Even though, the reason he came was because of her father's death, he had distracted her. He had brought that feeling up in her. Love. He loved her. And she loved him. It was finally out in the open. And that was distraction enough at least.
So sitting there, all by herself, was what she had feared the most. She was no longer capable of holding the tears back. Every single thought that crossed her mind was him…taking his last breath... and that she hadn't been there. Everything was breaking down in front of her. That wall Sam had helped her keep standing was breaking down, one piece at the time. She was faced with deep despair and grief. She had tried to convince herself to stay strong when in other's presence.
And she had. She knew that she wasn't able a yet to break down like this in front of…Sam. It wasn't because she didn't trust him. But a huge part of her didn't want him to see her like this.
She didn't want to pull him down too and make him feel miserable. What if it got too much for him and she lost him just about the minute she got him? She couldn't let that happen. She couldn't risk losing the one thing that held her together. She dared to say it. He was simply the most important person in her life presently. Unlike her mother, he was there for her whenever she needed him.
Where on earth was her mother at the moment? In her king-sized bed, sleeping it off, not even bothered to check up on her only daughter?
It wouldn't surprise Diane if that was the case. In fact, she didn't really care about what her mother was doing or how she was doing. Did she even care about Diane at all? Her mother? So busy associating with celebrities than taking care of her.
Diane was well aware that she was a woman and she should be able to take care of herself at the age of 18. But the issue was that her whole life she had been forced to take care of herself in periods of days...Sometime weeks!
The tear that ran down her cheek at that moment was due to all those time, she felt like she had no one to turn to. To all the times she cursed that she was an only child. To all the times she wondered if anyone really cared about her besides her dear cat.
She so desired to be accepted, appreciated and acknowledged for the person she was.
During all the years she had been on this earth, she had fought to be recognized by those she held dear. It was always short minutes of fame. All her effort had been in vain.
The only one who had taken the time to praise her whenever he had the time was her father.
He was always there for her when he wasn't working or on some ridiculous and unnecessary business trip.
She felt as though she had lost that recognition…That the only one who had ever cared to sit down and ask how his little brownie was doing, was her beloved father.
Who would do it from now on? Who would bother to listen to her and tell her that she was loved? Not only tell…but show.
She hoped Sam would. She knew he would. He had from the first day, hadn't he?
Why would he stop now? He, who had made her gain so much confidence in herself.
She could only return the favor by showing him how much he meant to her.
Oh, how she wished she had gone with him earlier. She couldn't bear to be on her own in this time of crisis. What she needed the most was not to be left alone and cope with things alone.
What she needed the most was to be with the one who truly cared about her.
She heard the front door downstairs open and close, and she wondered who it might be.
Could it be?...No he still had classes. And besides…he would enter through her window.
"Bloody-" was all Diane could make out from the person downstairs.
But it was enough to assure her that her mother had just entered from outside. She hadn't been home to begin with.
"Boggs?"
"Madame? Madame, you're all soaked up! Let me take that coat-"
"No, I'm alright, Boggs. Is Diane here?"
"I believe she's in her room, Madame."
Diane listened to the heavy steps on the stairs and within a minute, she heard a knock on her door.
"Darling? Are you in there?"
"Mommy?"
Helen Chambers opened the door and found her daughter sitting on the bed.
She sighed, relieved, and threw her hands out.
"Come here, darling," she sobbed.
Diane didn't hesitate for a moment as she rose from her bed and ran into her mother's embrace.
"I'm sorry, I didn't come home last night to be with you," Helen said, and ran a soothing hand down her daughters back.
"Where were you?" Diane whispered, shedding a tear.
"At the hospital, taking care of-"
"I wasn't able to leave before now. I hope Boggs have taken care of you while I was-"
"He has. And Sam has."
"Sam? Who is- could it be that young fellow Boggs mentioned to me several times? The one you've spent so incredibly much time with lately?"
"Very likely, yes" Diane smirked.
"Well…How unfortunate I haven't met the boy a yet. Is he still around?"
"No, he's at college. But he will be back this afternoon."
"Then I have a chance to meet him," Helen smiled.
"Yes," Diane chuckled.
"How- how serious is it between you two?" Helen whispered into Diane's ear.
"Are you?-"
"It has just begun…to get more serious," Diane smiled.
"How wonderful," Helen smiled to her ears.
"But of course," Helen continued "He needs my approval."
"I believe he has made plans for this afternoon, so I don't know how much time you have to-"
"Well, then you better tell me about him before our first short meeting."
"Don't you have things to do? Planning, speaking with other-"
"That can wait. Right now, I need to speak with you and hear what's going on in your life, darling."
Tears welled up in Diane's eyes.
"Thank you, mother."
"You don't need to thank me for acting like a mother for once."
Diane swallowed and put on a smile.
"Well then…"