Pieces of Me by Pua Ramona (small books to read txt) 📕

over to her and pull her into my arms so I can hug her. She doesn’t say anything, she doesn’t have to because I know what she’s feeling. I don’t see Marino anywhere so I assume that he’s already left. I am surprised to see that Michael is still here though.

“Thanks for driving her here man,” I say.

Michael looks at me and says “I’m sorry for your loss.” Every ill feeling, I felt toward this guy was non-existent. The fight we had earlier pales into insignificance. It’s time for me to grow up and that means I have to stop being such a jealous asshole. I don’t care that he has a past with Sina, or that he’s still in love with her because there is nothing I can do about it. And I’m okay with it because I know where Sina’s heart is, I just need her to tell me herself. But I’m not going to push her about it. “Take care of her?” he asks me..

I give him a head nod and say, “You have my word man.” He looks over my shoulder and I know he’s looking at his daughter. “You have a beautiful little girl, Mike.”

I see tears in his eyes and he says “I do. She looks just like her mother.” And that isn’t a lie, she’s a mini version of her mother. He puts his jacket on and grabs his keys from his pocket.

He starts walking away but he stops when he hears a little voice. “Daddy, wait.” We both look over and are shocked to see Emma running toward him. Tears start running down his face as she wraps her arms around him and says, “Thank you for bringing Mama to the hospital.” Michael chokes on his words and just holds his daughter. She smiles her mother’s smile and the air gets knocked out of me.  “Mama tells me stories about you, and she gave me a picture of you” she says. He doesn’t say anything, but he has more tears now.

He pulls her in tighter and says “You’re beautiful just like her.” Emma smiles again. He kisses her on the head and says, “I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Okay” she says. She hugs him one more time then she walks back to her grandmother.

Michael looks at me and says “All this time I thought she hated me, but she’s been including me in my daughter’s life all these years.” He takes a deep breath and says “Love her hard Eli. She deserves it. I’m still in love with her, but I lost her the day I chose to cheat. That will always be my regret. Sina is that once in a lifetime catch that doesn’t come around twice. Take care of her.” There’s nothing else to say because he’s right. He gives me a head nod then he’s gone.

“How are you holding up son?” Mama asks me.

I look at her and say “A piece of me died tonight Mama, but my life is laying in that bed. I have to make things right, because I don’t think I’ll survive if she decides to leave me now.” And that is my biggest fear. I don’t know how she’s going to feel tomorrow, but I know that it’s time I fought for her. She is my air and all the pieces that make my heart whole.

“How long will she have to stay here for?” Megan asks.

“The doctor said she’s okay to leave tomorrow,” I tell her.

“Is she sleeping right now?” Rita asks.

“Yeah, she’s had a rough day. When I left the room she was still sleeping. Do you want to go see her?” I say, hoping she says no because I’m not sure Sina will want to see anyone yet.

Rita looks at me and says “No, let her rest. But we’re going to leave so we could start making arrangements for Micah’s funeral.” She clears her throat and asks, “Will you be able to pick her up tomorrow?”

“I’m going to stay here with her, I was going to take her back to my place. If that’s okay” I say.

“Fuck no” Luka says.

I look at him and say “I know I fucked up man, but we just lost our son and I figured she could come stay with me. Her and Emma. I can’t be away from her right now.”

“Why would you think that we’d let you take her when you’re responsible for her being here?” Luka snapped. Ouch.

“Luka,” Rita says with a warning in her tone.

He looks at her and says, “She needs to be with her family Mama, not him.” I know he’s angry with me, and I don’t blame him because I did fuck up.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Megan says from her seat in the waiting area.

“What the fuck?” Luka says to his sister.

“She’ll be able to rest more at Eli’s. We’re going to be busy with the funeral preparations, then everyone’s going to be at the house. How will she be able to rest if there’s no room at the house?” Megan asks. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t fucking happy that Megan is siding with me right now.

Luka looks annoyed before turning to Daniel and saying, “What do you think Uce?”

Daniel shrugs his shoulders and says “It makes sense. And they did just lose their baby Bro, maybe Sina staying with Eli will be good for her. She needs it.”

Rita looks at me and says “Let us know when she’s settled in so we can come and see her. And we’ll just bring Emma when we come by.” She smiles at me then pulls me in for a hug. “Thank you for doing this Eli. I know she’s not okay, but she needs you more now. I’m sure that she’s going to be upset and when she finds out that she’ll be staying with you, but she’ll realize that it’s for the best.” Daniel, Mona, Megan and June-Bug say their goodbyes before they start walking out