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[Valentina's POV]

Time really is relative.

After Jack shot my mother using his gun and fled after sending me a murderous look I barely managed to find my phone and call 911. Maybe it was the shock that took over me because since then I'm feeling numb.

It's hard to say what happened next. The paramedics came over and helped my mom. And now we're here at the hospital with me sitting in the waiting room unable to speak or move.

The doctors are operating on my mother as I waited. A few nurses tried to get me to converse with them, but I don't think I even heard them speak to me. They gave up after a while sending me sympathetic looks.

I didn't mean to be rude or anything, but it's hard to explain what I was feeling. I remember seeing blood everywhere. Even my hands as I tried to stop my mother from bleeding out, on our living room floor.

That red pool of crimson blood...

A hand on my shoulder made me flinch hard in panic. I look up and see a police officer carrying a gentle look on his face.

He introduced himself and asked me about tonight's events. Surprisingly enough I was able to speak to him and he was patiently paying attention even at those moments when I would randomly stop talking being transported at that horrific scene.

I told him everything I knew about Jack, even sent him a picture of his and he promised me they'll find him. I merely nodded as he stood up and walked out of the room.

I'm not sure how long I was sitting there, but soon enough I see a doctor heading towards me. The sadness in his face didn't make me feel better at all, infact my heart dropped to my stomach when I started assuming the worst.

"Your mother's condition is critical. The bullet unfortunately pierced her right lung and damaged it. An artery that's connected to her left lung was nicked as well causing a lot of problems for her", The doctor explained to me. "It's a wait and watch now."

Suddenly I felt like all my energy was drained out of my body at once. Tears masked my vision as I step back and dropped down on the chair I was seated on earlier. It seemed like the air around here was getting thin too.

When I was allowed to see her I couldn't even hold back the tears. Even with that blurry vision I didn't miss all those wires attached to her as if they were a part of my mom.

"Honey, come here", Mom whispered weakly, a small smile on her pale face.

I couldn't meet her eyes as I sit beside her on the bed. Her hand reached up to caress my cheek and I couldn't hold back. A loud desperate cry choked out of me as I threw my arms around her and hide my face on her shoulder.

I hear her sigh and then caress my hair. She let me cry my heart out until I managed to stop myself. Pulling back I roughly wiped my tear stained cheeks and rubbed my puffy eyes.

"The doctors say that...", I couldn't finish the sentence without my throat closing up.

"I know", Mom became sad. "And I'm so sorry about that honey.  I really am."

"I-I can't lose you mom. I just can't. You're all I have. H-How do I live without you?", I cried, my right palm pressed against my forehead.

Mom didn't reply, but I saw her eyebrows get scrunched in worry. Suddenly her whole demeanor changed and a look of determination crossed her face.

"Valentina you have to listen to me. I need to tell you something very important!", She insisted strongly.

The change in her tone confused me. "Mom?"

"I— ", She started, but cut herself off looking unsure.

"What is it?", I frowned.

She took a deep breath and braced herself before looking at me. "If I don't better—

"Mom please!", I immediately intervene and stop her.

She places her hand on mine shaking her head sadly. "You need to know honey. Please."

I just held her hand in mine keeping quiet and allowing her to speak because I could sense she was highly disturbed about whatever this is.

"I know you've always wondered who your father was", She began, making my eyes rise up to hers.

We've hardly talked about the man who's supposed to be my father. For some unknown reasons my mom always avoided that topic and after a certain point I gave up too thinking it's a difficult conversation for her.

I just assumed he's dead.

"He's alive", Mom whispered weakly.

"What?"

She nods avoiding looking into my eyes. "He lives in New York with your... brothers."

"What!?"

Brothers? Plural?

"We have—you have an actual family existing out there. I know you always had questions about him, I just couldn't answer", She informed regretfully.

Family!?

"What are you talking about?", I frowned.

Mom sighed looking down, picking her nails. "You were very young when I took you away from them. A baby infact. In order to get away...I flew us over here to Texas and started a new life. Just the two of us."

It took a minute to register that. "Why? Is my father a horrible man?"

Mom smiled sadly. "No. Not at all. I..had my reasons to take you away. I know you might hate me for that, but sweety I had no choice. I-I wanted a normal life for us."

I wasn't able to understand what she meant. And I guess she figured that.

"All you need to know right now is...if something happens to me, I want you to call your father and tell him everything about us. If he's the same man I knew then, he won't even hesitate before deciding to take you in", Mom explained.

I stare at her. "Mom—?"

She smiled weakly. "I know this is a lot for you, but please understand I never meant to break our family. All I wanted was—", She trailed off.

"— it doesn't matter", She cut herself off. "You'll know why when it's time. But I need to be assured that you'll have someone to take care of you after I'm gone. If this is my last day, I want to know I reunited our family", Mom expressed her wishes, getting teary eyed.

"Mom it's not your last day. The doctors say your condition is critical, but I-I'm sure you'll improve", I tried to sound strong, mostly convincing myself.

Mom adamantly shook her head. "Promise me you'll listen to me. You'll call your father if I die."

"Mom—"

"Valentina! Please!", Mom pleaded in desperation.

"Okay okay. I will", I assure her.

I see her visibly relax hearing that. "I have his number written in a piece of paper in the second drawer of my nightstand. It's hidden between pages of my recipe book."

My mind just unravelled with this new revelation. I never thought mom was hiding such a big secret from me. I don't know why she did it and why did she leave her—our family.

"Did my father...care about me?", I couldn't help, but ask.

"Your father loved you more than his own life. I'm sure he still does", Mom smiled teary eyed. "He called you his angel."

It all felt so new and unrelatable to me, but I shook my head when the doctor knocked on the door. He came in and checked her vitals.

"Still no progress, I'm afraid", The doctor muttered defeatedly.

My worry skyrocketed. The fear of losing my mother filled me up to the brim. Never in my life had I ever anticipated we'd end up here like this.

The doctor recommended mom to get some rest hoping it helps her continued treatment. I move to the couch on the far end of the room to allow her the entire bed.

Maybe the meds wore her out because she was asleep within a few minutes. I decided to rest my back as well on the couch. God knows when I lost the battle to the overbearing need to sleep.

My eyes opened when I hear a loud commotion in the room. I blink repeatedly for clear vision while pushing myself up from the couch. I spot a bunch of medical professionals surrounding my mom's bed involved in frantic movements.

"Wh-What happened?", I ask standing up, my heart pounding against my ribcage.

No one would answer me. Infact they were so busy trying to shock my unconscious mother with electric paddles I reached the conclusion myself.

They were trying to revive my mom. But that would mean...

It was like my soul left my body as I ran towards my mother. "MOM!", I practically screamed in fear.

Suddenly the doctor stops and sighs heavily. I catch him glancing at his watch and then looking at his colleagues before his eyes found me.

"Time of death—2:35"

.
.
.

It's been three painful days since my mom's funeral and I still haven't been able to get myself to enter her room.

Heck I've barely been alive.

If it weren't for Ryan and Stacy I don't think I'd pushed myself to even eat regularly. I just can't seem to move on. I know I should, there's nothing I can do now. She's gone.

She's really gone.

"Val?", Ryan whispered, placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Did you hear us?", Stacy asked softly.

I inhaled deeply wiping the sweat forming on my forehead. "I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

They both share a look before looking at me sadly.

"Val you're scaring us. You hardly ever talk and you're always spaced out. I know this is a tough time for you, but you gotta remember you're not alone, okay?", Stacy spoke worriedly.

I nod slowly. "Yeah of course I know that. You two are everything to me."

"I hate to say this, but—", Ryan began with difficulty. "Maybe it's time you call your father. Aunt Melanie wanted you to."

I look down at my hands. One more thing that's swirling around my mind is my father. Since I haven't been able to enter mom's room I don't have the number yet.

But I'm not even sure what I'll tell him. How do I even speak to someone I never knew? What will he say? Will he even answer the call? If he will, what will he think about his daughter connecting with him so many years later?

"Val trust me when I say my parents will adopt you without hesitation, if you want", Stacy stated as a matter of fact making me smile a bit. "But..don't you wanna meet him?"

"I don't know", I shrug sighing.

"Your mum said he's a good guy", Ryan reminded.

"Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. That's not what I'm thinking about. What do I tell him guys? I don't know why mom left him all those years ago and all a sudden I expect a man, who's  practically a stranger to me, to take me in?", I spoke, sounding ridiculous to myself.

"Give it a try?", Ryan whispered softly.

I exhaled heavily. "Yes I guess. Mom wanted that. It was basically her final wish to reunite her family."

No matter how overwhelming this is I knew I'll go through this. Mom was my whole life and basically my only family, but I'd be lying if I said I'm not curious about this....other family she talked about in her last moments.

And I also cannot possibly live alone the rest of my life. I'll go crazy.

So after my best friends left for their respective homes at that night I decided to finally enter mom's room. A rush of memories hit me like a tornado when I stepped in. Pushing past all that I went through her nightstand according to her instructions and came across the book of recipes she mentioned.

I flip through the pages of that book until I see the small piece of paper stuck in between two thick pages. Once I find it and pick it up, I abandon the book.

I stare at the number written clearly in my mom's unmistakable handwriting.

After a long minute of pondering, I tug my phone out of my pocket and dial the number. With shaky hands I place the phone on my ear and try to relax not wanting to sound incomprehensible.

It rang thrice before someone picked it up. "Hello?", A strong, but deep male voice answered.

I then realised I wasn't even aware of my father's name. What do I say? Shit! I forgot how to speak in that moment as my mouth opened and just air escaped it.

"Hello?", The voice stressed loudly.

"Uh..h-hi", I finally found my voice since I didn't want the man to cut the call.

"Yes? Who's this?", He questioned.

I dreaded replying with my name. What if he hangs up? Or worse, he admits to not even knowing me? I cannot lose two parents within three days.

"Hello? Who's this?", He repeated, now sounding a little frustrated.

"I'm sorry, but can you please tell me who I'm talking to?", My eyes close due to the nervousness.

"Excuse me?", He sounded confused.

At this point I wasn't even sure if I'm actually speaking to my father. What if it's a wrong number? Who's to say he's even using the same number after all these years?

I decided to just rip the band-aid off instead of beating around the bush. "Do you know someone named Melanie?", I asked, my fingers crossed.

I was rewarded with pure silence on the other line. My eyes open when I didn't get a reply. My heart continued to beat rapidly making me feel the pulse in my ear.

"Who are you?", The man questioned in a low, intimidating tone.

Do I tell him? Maybe confirm first.

"Do you have a wife named, Melanie?", I practically whispered.

"Who is this?", He repeated, stressing each and every word in a tone that would make me cut the call any other day.

"My name's Valentina", I whispered anxiously.

Dead silence on the other line.

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