AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ellen nodded and Danielle said, “Thank you. Thank you for everything, Robert.”
Ellen said, “If you don’t mind, I’d like to go to my room and be alone for a little while.”
Danielle said, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I mean, do you really want to be alone?”
“No. I want Lori with me. But that’s not going to happen, is it. I have to face it. I’m alone again,” she said.
“You’re not alone. You have me and Robert here,” Danielle said.
Ellen said, “And I love you guys for being here. But you both know that it’s not the same.”
Before meeting Danielle, I don’t think I could’ve understood what she was feeling. But I didn’t want to feel what Ellen was right now. The thought that it easily could’ve been Danielle diagnosed with cancer scared the shit out of me. I’m not sure I would’ve been able to hold it together as well as Ellen had.
Don’t think about it. She’s okay. Nothing is going to happen to her.
This opened my eyes on how much Danielle meant to me. I knew what we had was different from anything I’ve ever had with anyone else. Hell, I’d spent my life avoiding these types of feelings. But there was no hiding from them with Danielle. I was falling in love with her. I hadn’t told her, in words, but I would like to think that my actions did that for me.
Why else would I be here if I didn’t love her?
When we dropped Ellen off at her room, Danielle and I went to ours. I didn’t know what to say to her, so I just opened my arms and held her. She didn’t cry, because I was sure she had no tears left. All I could do was offer my strength and she took it. We stood there for what seemed like hours, saying nothing.
Then she slipped out of my arms and said, “I guess we’re going to need to make arrangements to have her body sent home.”
“If you need me to do that for you, just let me know. I’m here to help in any way I can,” I said.
“Robert, you’ve helped me more than I can tell you. And not just me. Lori was so happy having you here. It gave her someone she could talk to who wasn’t a basket case. I was a little jealous sometimes, but I know you were what she needed. You made her laugh and for that, I’ll always be grateful.”
“I wish I could do the same for you,” I said.
“You will. I just need a little time. Maybe when we get back home, I will feel more like myself,” she said.
“Danielle, you deal with people who have lost loved ones all the time. You know that you cannot put a timetable on the mourning process. Everyone goes through it differently. Just know that I’m here whenever you need me.”
“I need you right now. Do you think we could go lie down and you just…hold me?” she asked.
I kissed her forehead and said, “Of course.” Taking her hand, I led her to the bed. She sat down on it and I bent over and took off her shoes. Then she lied back, and I took a small blanket and covered her before lying down beside her. She snuggled up against me and we just lay there, no talking. Soon I felt her body relax, and she drifted off to sleep.
Today was a hard day for her. But this was not the last of them. I wish I could fix it, make all her pain and heartache go away. I couldn’t. But at least for now, she was resting peacefully.
Sleep. I’ll be here watching over you for as long as you’ll let me.
