Chapter 16

Christmas Day 2009

He was dying. She knew it and everyone else who knew him did too. Most of the people in his life had given up on him a long time ago because he was difficult to deal with, but she's not going to. She can't let him die not knowing that he has a daughter who loves him. It's the least she can do for him – after all, he's the one who brought her to life, along with her mother, who died so she could live.

She searched for him in the airy recreation room. She found him by the window, where he usually was. He was sitting on the battered old couch staring blankly at the view in front of him, which was the front yard of the mental institution. She sat beside him slowly, putting some space between them - not too far, not too close. He blinked once, not even bothering to look at the young woman sitting beside him.

"Hey Dad, it's me again. Merry Christmas!"

She said cheerfully. He blinked once again. She decided to continue even though she got no response from him. It was always like this. She had gotten used to it, but not tired of it. Not yet anyway.

"I brought you a gift."

She took the faded photograph full of folds out of the pocket of her green parka and extended her left arm to him. It was a photograph of her as a little girl with him as a young man. He looked so different at the moment compared to the way he looked before. The difference was striking.

Several minutes passed and he didn't even bother glancing at the photograph – not even for a second. She sighed. She took her aching arm away from him when suddenly, he grabbed it with both of his hands. His grip was too tight. Her heart started racing.

"I thought I told you to leave me alone! Stop coming here! I don't want to see you again!"

He screamed at her, his saliva flying in every direction as he spoke. She gasped and swiftly got up from the couch. His hands were still on her even though she was already standing. The security guards of the mental institution who were standing nearby came to her aid and an employee in purple scrubs sedated the man. When he was calm and almost asleep, she took her arm away from him. Tears were streaming down her face as she rubbed the spot where his hands have been. There were bruises on her pale skin already. He didn't have any knowledge of what he used to do to her before, but he still had the ability to hurt her. It amazed her. Did he really hate her that much? That even if his brain was degenerating and he's forgetting everything and everyone he's ever known each day, he still hated her for being born?

She left the room sobbing. The security guards stood at both of her sides, making sure that she got out of the room safely. The employee in the purple scrubs covered the man she sedated with a blanket and walked away to attend to another patient.

On the other side of the room, he was leaning against the wall with his arms at his sides. He saw everything. He closed then opened his fists.

Every day, he earned more reasons to kill her demented dad.

Present Day

"Are you sure you want to work for the WWE again?"

Bas asked as he cradled the baby boy in his hands. Emilia zipped up her suitcase and took it off the bed. She readjusted the leather bag on her right shoulder and tightly held the handle of her suitcase with her left hand. She sighed.

"We've already talked about this. I don't have a choice."

"I'm sure I can find you a better job. Or Daisy. Give us a few days."

Bas didn't want her to go. He wanted her to be safe and having her under his roof was the best way he can protect her. He already told her that she could stay with him and Daisy for as long as she needed to or until she felt safe being on her own again.

"You've already done so much for me, Bas. Daisy too. I don't have a few days."

"You're my sister. I'd do anything for you. Please Emilia, don't leave. What about little Levi?"

Bas pointed at the baby boy in his arms with his chin. The baby boy was trying to touch his face. He looked down and smirked.

"You'd do anything for me? Take care of him then."

Emilia said. She walked towards Bas and bent down to kiss her eight month-old son. She grinned when she felt his tiny fingers on her face. His eyes looked so much like his dad's. Emilia straightened herself and looked at Bas.

"I will. You take care. I love you."

"I love you too."

Since they can't hug, Bas and Emilia nodded at each other as a way to goodbye. When she got out of the guest bedroom, she found Daisy standing right outside the door. Her sister-in-law wrapped her arms around her neck and pulled back.

"The cab's waiting outside. Stay safe, Emilia."

Emilia nodded.

"You too, Daisy. Thank you so much for everything."

"You're very welcome."

Emilia smirked at Daisy and walked towards the front door. When she made it to the cab, the driver took her suitcase and put it in the trunk of his yellow vehicle. She looked over her shoulder and found Bas and Daisy standing on the front porch of their Victorian house. Her heart ached at the sight of her son Levi in her brother's arms. She will miss the little guy the most.

"Ready to go, miss?"

The driver asked as he closed the trunk. Emilia looked at him.

"Yeah."

She answered him, even if she wasn't. She opened the door of the backseat and got inside. She waved at Bas and Daisy and they waved back. She didn't take her eyes off them until they were out of her sight.

She ran away from everything - her job, her co-workers, Dean. And now she was running right back. It was like setting herself on fire.

Author's note: I'm so sorry to have kept you all waiting for months for a new chapter – I hope this is enough to make it up to all of you. I wasn't planning on continuing this story because one I'm busy with college and other stories that I have up on Wattpad, and two I can't remember how this story is supposed to go and end but since I'm getting e-mail notifications about how this story is still getting followers, reviews, and other good stuff despite not being updated for months, I decided to write a new chapter and post it. Anyway, don't stop being awesome and keep following and reviewing this story! Anyway, I made a new cover for this story. Okay, that's all. Thanks! – C x