Here's the 5th chapter of 'Awake' for you! Enjoy!

Ronnie POV

Chapter 5: What Could Have Been

I Stood for a minute thinking, thinking of what could have been. Thinking of the life that we could have had. A normal family. A great family. I gazed deep into space as I thought, creating a perfect image in the process. I imagined the moment where Danielle would arrive home and see me for the first time in a long time since being in hospital. What the future could have held...

"Mum!" Danielle called out as she entered the doorway.

"Danielle!" I rushed to hug her and help her in the door but, by the time I arrived, she had already shuffled herself through the doorway and was advancing towards the kitchen area. I grasped her crutches from the palms of her hands and propped them against the side of the staircase. I took her bags from the driver and thanked him for bringing her home safely. I proceeded to the kitchen where Danielle was already seated on the comfy cushioned wooden chairs.

"How was your trip?" I smiled, handing her a spare bowl of the vegetable soup I had prepared for her that afternoon.

"Not bad", she grinned, taking a large sip of the thick and creamy vegetable soup.

"You know", I began, "once your leg is better we can go on holiday. If we gather enough money, I was thinking Australia?"

I sipped my soup and waited patiently for her response.

"Australia sounds good", she agreed, "But, to be honest, I'm not bothered where we go as long as we get to spend at least SOME mother/daughter time together!"

"It's been a while", I admitted.

"Don't worry!" she chirped, sensing my suddenly saddened attitude, "There's plenty of time!"

We continued to slurp our soup, both of us, myself in particular, thinking over our planned holiday. 'There's plenty of time', that quote stood in mind. We did have plenty of time. The future was ours and a good future, we would make it.

I sighed. This one thought almost crushing me under pressure. Of course that was only ONE reason. I had thought further and further into the future that could have been...

I stopped myself thinking any further on into these thoughts. No more, I told myself, No more of this stupidity. It's never going to happen now. You blew your opportunity. I doubled over as these thoughts crossed my mind. I blew my opportunity. I really had.

"Miss Mitchell...Miss Mitchell..." the hushed voices lured me back to reality. I looked at the nurse. She hovered over me nervously then nodded at me as if in attempt to ask if I was alright though she couldn't find the words. I just nodded at her weakly, other things in mind.

"I'm sorry, I need to talk to Danielle...now", I shrugged her hand off of my shoulders and edged towards Danielle.

I sat down beside her bed, admiring the silky bedsheets. Wrong moment, wrong time, I assured myself, setting my focus fully upon Danielle.

"Er...Danielle...I need to tell you something..." I began. I drew a deep breath.

"Wait!" She interrupted, grinding my confession to a halt, "I just want to say...thank you".

"Thank you?" I was taken aback. Why on earth would she thank me?

"You opened up to me, mum. You were one hundred percent honest with me and you've just proved to me how amazing my mother truly is".

I forced a grin onto my face. I felt to terrible. So guilty. So disgusted in myself.

"Now what was it you wanted to tell me?" I stammered, my body going into shock. Oh god. What was I to do now?

Did you enjoy that chapter? Next chapter will be up on Saturday so remember to look out for it! Also, keep reviewing because I need your reviews so I know if you want me to continue! It's my readers opinions that keep my stories going! Anyway, thanks for reading!

Georgina =)