Once inside, Melissa tried to calm her speeding pulse.� She could feel Nick�s eyes on her back as he entered the room.
�You can�t say things like that to me.�� She replied looking at him.
�Why?� I have always admitted how I felt about you.� I love you; I want to be with you.�� He walked over to her.� �I have never hidden that, unlike you.�
�Unlike me?�
�Yes, one minute you love me, then the next you want me to stay away from you.�
�What do you want me to say, Nick?�
�I want you to be honest for one, honest with me and yourself.�
�Fine, I love you and I probably never stop.� But that doesn�t change what has happened.�
�Why not?� We love each other, what else is there?�
�I can�t keep falling for you and getting hurt.�
�So you are scared to let me in again after everything I did.�� Nick sighed and walked away.� �Why can�t you just let me in?�
�I have tried, but looked what happened.�� Nick approached her again.
�Melissa, look into my eyes.�� She looked into his blue eyes.� �Do you believe that I love you?�
�Yes.�
�Then do you believe that if you let me in again that I will do whatever it takes to protect your heart.�
Tear welled up in her eyes and she looked away from him.� Nick knew her answer and felt his heart drop.
�I understand.�� He walked up to her.� �I will always love you.� You can always count me, no matter what.�
Melissa nodded her head, not trusting her voice.� �Are you coming tomorrow to see me off?�� She asked once she finally found her voice.
�I think we should just say our goodbyes now.�� Nick embraced her, holding on tightly.
Melissa held on just as tightly, she was going to miss him.� She could feel tears running down her face.� Nick broke the embrace and looked into her eyes.� He wanted to remember every detail of her face.� Her hazel round eyes, her full lips, her high cheekbones, and her long dark brown hair.� The image of her would be etched into his mind forever.
�I will always love you.�� He kissed her cheek and left out the front door.
A pain engulfed her body as she watched him walk out of her life.� Doubts floated in her head, but she pushed them away.� After a couple of minutes, Melissa collected herself and went out back to the party.
�Thank you for coming.� Have a nice night.� Kathleen replied to the last guests leaving.� She closed the door and when looking for her daughter.
�Mel?�
�In the living room.�
Kathleen walked in and saw her daughter on the sofa holding a scrapbook.� �What are you doing?�
�Just remembering.�
She sat down next to her daughter and looked at the book.� It was a book full of pictures of Brian, Samantha, Nick, and herself.
�Are you okay?�
�No, not really.� But I haven�t been okay for a long time, so I�m use to it.�
�Oh honey, talk to me.� What�s going on?�
�I�m having so many doubts.�� Melissa sighed.� �My head is telling me I�m doing the right thing that he is only going to hurt me again.� But my heart is telling me that I will never love anyone as much as I love him and that this time will be different.� He won�t break my heart again into million of pieces.�
�So you are still in love with him?�� Kathleen asked sitting back on the sofa.
�I don�t think I ever stopped.�� She laid the book down on the coffee table.� �But what do I do?�
�I can�t answer that for you, honey.� You have to make your own decision.�� Kathleen touched her daughter�s hand.�
�I was afraid that was what you were going to say.�� Melissa smiled at her.� �I�m going to go to bed.� I�m exhausted and we have to get up early to make it to the train station on time.�� Melissa hugged her mother and stood up.
�Night.�
�Night mom.�
Melissa walked down the hallway to her bedroom and shut the door.� She looked at the luggage sitting next to her bed.� �Dad, what am I going to do?� How do I know that the choice I make is the right one?�� She sighed and ran her hand through her hair.
�I�m making the right decision.� I have to protect my heart.�� Melissa got changed for bed and laid down.
After hours of tossing and turning, Melissa finally had fallen asleep.
�Melissa.�
Melissa stirred a little bit, but didn�t awake.
�Melissa.�
She turned on her side, pulling the covers over her shoulder.
�Melissa, wake up sweetie.�
Melissa opened her eyes.� She had heard a voice and it had sounded so familiar.� After thinking the lack of sleep was finally having an effect on her, she closed her eyes again.
�Wake up, honey.�� The voice was louder this time.
Melissa sat up; she knew she heard something that time.� She looked around the room and saw no one.
�All these sleepless nights have made go crazy, I think I�m hearing voices.�� She brushed back her hair.� �Get a grip, Mel.�
�You aren�t crazy daughter of mine.�� The strong male voice stated.
�Dad?�
Right in front of her vanity, a ghostly image appeared.� The foggy image became solid as her eyes focused on it.� It was her father standing in front of her as if he had never died.
�Dad?�
�Hi sweetheart.�
�I�m seeing things.�
�No, you aren�t seeing things.� I�m really here, honey.�� He smiled warmly at her.
Melissa got out of bed and slowly walked over to him.
�Give me a hug.�
She approached him slowly, scared he would disappear.
�Come on, I won�t bite.�� He offered her his hand.� Melissa looked at it as she placed her hand in his.� She felt his hand grasp hers and she could feel the warmth of his touch.� She looked up at him as tears welled up in her eyes.
�Dad.�� She leaped into his arms as she cried.
�My little girl.�� Mitchell wrapped his only daughter in his arms.
�I have missed you so much, dad.�
�I have missed you too.�� He stated with a smile.
Mitchell pulled back and cupped his daughter�s face.� �Look at you, you are all grown up.�
More tears came down her face as she looked into her father�s eyes.
�Honey, don�t cry.�� He wiped her tears away.
�I can�t help it, I�m so lost without.�
�I have noticed.�
She looked confused.� �What do you mean, you noticed?�
�Let�s have a seat.�� They sat down on her bed.� �I have been watching you.�
�Watching me?�
�I have been watching over you and your mother.� I needed to know that you both were okay.�
�So you know��
�About Bella? Yes, I do.�� Mitchell played with his daughter�s hair.� �Why didn�t you tell me?�
�I�m so sorry dad; I didn�t want to disappoint you.�
�There is no way you could ever disappoint me.� Don�t you know how proud of you I am?�
Melissa stood up.� �Proud of what?� Getting pregnant at eighteen?� Staying away for years from you and mom?�
�Mel, stop.�
�How can you be proud of me when��
Mitchell walked over to her.� �When you aren�t proud of yourself?�� Melissa couldn�t look at him.� �Honey, you have to forgive yourself.�
�How can I?� All of this is my fault.�
�What is your fault?�
�Nick, Bella, you.�
�None of that was your fault.�
�Then why does everyone I love either leave me or hurt me?�
He touched the side of her face.� �I never wanted to leave you or your mother.� I love you both so much.� But my life ending has nothing to do with you, it was my time.� As for Bella, it was her time too and you hold no responsibility for what happened.�
�But dad��
�No Mel, it wasn�t your fault.�� He cupped her face so she was looking at him.� �The difference between me, Bella, and Nick is that Nick is still alive.� And he loves you so much, honey.�
Melissa looked away from him.
�Why are you letting go of what you two have?�
�I�m scared.�� Melissa said as she leaned up against the dresser.
�Scared of him hurting you again?�
She nodded her head.� �How do I know he won�t do it again?�
�You don�t honey, there are no guarantees in life.�
�I know that.�� She rubbed her head.� �So what do I do?�
�You need to make a choice.� You need to decide if you can picture your life without Nick in it.�� He walked over to her.� �Can you do that, Mel?�
Her hands ran up into her hair.� �I don�t know, dad.� I just don�t know.�
�You don�t have to make this decision this moment, but I want to remind you of something.�
She looked at him.� �Life is so short to be unhappy.� You have to take the moments you have with your loved one and cherish them.� Because you will never know if it is the last time you will see them.� If I had known what was going to happen, I would have spent my last day with you and your mother.� I would want you both to know how much I love you.�� Mitchell hugged his daughter tightly.
�We already knew, dad.� We love you so much, you were the best father.�� He smiled to himself hearing her words.
�I don�t want you to live a life wishing you had made a difference choice.�� He kissed her forehead.� �I have to go, honey.�
�No, dad, please don�t go.�� Melissa cried.
�I have to, but I will always be with you.�� He wiped her tears away, he moved back from her.� �Forgive yourself and be happy.�
Melissa felt tears once again well up in her eyes.� �And don�t worry about Bella, I�m watching over her too.� I love you.�� Mitchell slowly faded away, leaving Melissa alone.
�I love you too.�
