shy rose

"Well...this is a surprise." Ash says letting Thomas inside. The atmosphere felt tense, as the man walks in, looking around the place. His hands behind his back, looking a bit awkward as if he were thinking of the right words to say. 

"It's a really nice place you have." Her father says, finally breaking the ice. his voice sounding a bit hoarse and soft, much softer than the last words he said to her 18 years ago. 

"I'm Sorry Renee...papa has to go away for a while. Be a good girl for maman and I promise when I come back I'll teach you the violin, okay?" 

A promise he has never fulfilled. 

"Yeah....thanks. My friend who owns that chocolate shoppe downstairs is letting me stay since I got evicted from my old apartment a few months ago. I plan to move out soon since I'll be moving in with Alfred." Ash replies, feeling distant. 

"Alfred? Is he a friend of yours?" the old man asks, taking a spot on the couch while she put a kettle on the stove. 

"He's my fiancé. We're going to get married soon." 

She looked up at Thomas who froze a bit, but soon his eyes softened. "How time flies.." he mumbles, as he twiddles his thumbs again. "Renee....about your mother-"

"Why did you hide it from me?..." Ash interrupts him, her eyes filled with sadness. "Why didn't you tell me that the woman whom I called 'Mother' for years, who looked at me with disgust while I fought so hard for her to acknowledge me was my aunt? that....that I'm some bastard child!?" she exclaims. Her father looked at her sadly. 

"Why.....why didn't you tell me..my real mother passed away?..." she asks softly, her voice almost a whisper. "That it was my fault....?" 

Thomas got up from his seat and held her close. "I'm sorry Renee.....I'm so sorry...." he says, hugging his daughter tightly. "I didn't know how to tell you about Anna...she.....she was very frail.....and weak. We tried so hard to save her..." his voice trails off, remembering the day his daughter was born. 

'Congratulations you two. You have a very healthy baby girl.' The doctor says as he cleans the wailing infant. Thomas's eyes lit up with joy. A little girl. He is finally a father.Feeling so overjoyed he couldn't contain himself. 

'Anna, did you hear? We have a daughter!' he says to his lover, as he cradled the newborn. 'She is so beautiful....she has your looks.'

'Oh?....That's wonderful...' Annaiiese says, smiling tiredly as a nurse dabbed her sweaty forehead with the damp sponge. 'L-let me see her...' she says weakly. With a nod, Thomas walks over to the woman, gently putting their daughter into her arms.The child continued to cry as her mother gently cradled her, humming a soft tune. 

'Little bunny in the sky....

mama is here so don't you cry....

If you look up at the stars....

you will know i won't be far...'

Thomas watched as the infant was shushed by her mother's lullaby, then turned his attention to Anna. Her eyes became dull, and he knew her life is almost coming to a close. 'Anna....' he whispers. 

Anna looks up, shedding a single tear. 'Oh Thomas....she's perfect...I'm....so glad I could see her before I go....' she whispers, before closing her eyes, breathing one last breath. 

Thomas gave out a loud sigh, looking down at his daughter. Oh how much she has grown. It was if yesterday he was picking her up after she fell and scrapped her knee, her tiny arms wrapped around his neck as she cries from the stinging pain as he rubs her back gently, trying to soothe her, telling her everything will be okay and that they will go to the nearest patisserie, and buy her favorite pastry. 

"Oh Renee.....please don't blame yourself for Anna's death...She was so happy to see you, she never regret giving birth to you." he says, a tear streaming down his face. 22 years later, he still mourns for his true love. 

"Dad...why didn't you come back for me?" Ash asks. Thomas felt a sharp pain of guilt rush over him. 

"Oh Renee....I wanted to come back to get you, but....Claire....my ex wife....your aunt...she made sure of it that I couldn't get custody of you. She wanted me to lose the one precious thing that meant most to me.......You." he replies. 

"That day your mother died.....not only have I lost the love of my life and you lost your mother.....Claire lost her sister. It's what drove her off the edge. Even though it was Anna I cheated on.....Claire couldn't stay angry at her younger sister...growing up they held a tight bond....Anna always supported Claire in everything she did.....hearing her death was like her world fell apart...."  "It didn't give her the right to treat me like she did when I grew up. Then sending me away to the U.S.? I was terrified dad...." Ash replies. She wanted to yell and scream at her father, tell him how horrible of a father he was....but....she couldn't do it.....

*opens door* 

Yes? May I hel-

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*Gasps* 

Hello Renee...It's been a while hasn't it?

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