Chapter IV

"I'm sorry for what my brother did to you,"

The next day, Lucas' sister, Esther, came to visit her. She was the youngest among the Del Fierro siblings. Lucas being the eldest, Levi, Ruth, the twins Elijah and Ezekiel and then Esther.

Being the only girl after Ruth died, Esther was always complaining to her how her older brothers were so protective of her.

But Danie always tell her how lucky she was to have them. It must be a nice feeling when somebody worries for you because they love you.

Having a sibling was a dream for Danie.  But it wasn't possible as her parents died when she was just a baby. Her uncle, Justus Williams, acted as her parent since then. She was his only family aside from her grandfather. The latter was a super strict old man who Danie seldom see.

She grew up in a family that only see each other on certain occasions, her birthday not included. Sometimes, she was wondering if they even know her birthday. She never celebrated with them.

The maids were more like a family to her. For example, her nanny Evelyn raised her like her own child. Danie was grateful for her. But just as a normal person would, she craved for the love of a real family.

Of course, she couldn't tell Esther that she envies her a lot. She was supposed to not remember where she came from.

"I mean, it's kinda frustrating! I'm not a kid anymore. But they're treating me like I can't do anything for myself." Esther continued complaining.

"They just care so much about you," she commented.

"I know," Esther sighed. "But-"

"I'm sorry, Esther." She looked away. "If Ruth didn't die perhaps they're not so strict on you."

"Dana, please. You didn't mean it. Stop saying sorry."

"If only -"

"Just stop, okay? I don't blame you at all! Besides, I believe that my sister is already in a better place now. Come on, Dana, don't tell me you never listened last night?"

"I did," at the memorial service, Rev. Marcus, though he was also a father who lost a child, reiterated that Ruth's time on earth was up. God would've still taken her life another way if the accident didn't. He believed that she had already served her purpose and that's why, he, as a father, could accept her death wholeheartedly.

'Death is a way to be with God. It should be a glorious thing.'

"Then stop blaming yourself, too. Don't let my brother's words affect you."

"I understand Lucas. It wasn't easy for him."

"I know, but don't you think he's being unreasonable now? Whatever, let's not talk about him. Oh, It's been a year. Meaning, you turned a year older! Should we choose a date to be your birthday?" Esther diverted the topic and appeared too excited with her idea.

She was right. Come to think of it. She already forgot that her birthday was the same day as the day of the accident. That meant that her birthday was yesterday.

Danielle was already twenty-five... She felt tears pricking the back of her eyelids. She was about to cry. She knew it.

"Hey, did I say something wrong? Did I upset you?"

"N-no... Sorry, I just, I just thought that you're right. I've turned a year older." She wiped her tears away.

"Then, how about we celebrate the day when you wake up from coma? Made sense right? Back then, we weren't sure if you're going to live. But here you are now, God gave you another chance. It's worth celebrating, don't you think?" Esther seemed to be already planning a party for her in her mind. Her twinkling eyes gave it away.

"In three weeks, then?" She managed a genuine smile. She wanted to hug Esther. It's not her real birthday but it was the first time that somebody was actually excited to celebrate with her.

Tabitha and the rest agreed to Esther's idea. Everybody was excited except Lucas, of course.

"Birthday, huh?" He said sarcastically.

Danie and the rest of Lucas' siblings were discussing their plans when Lucas arrived from work.

She agreed to go with Esther at the Del Fierro's residence because she thought that Lucas was out of town as he was usually. But apparently, Esther got her brother's schedule wrong.

"You have the nerve to celebrate a fake birthday, Dana?" He looked at her with eyes full of hatred.

"Lucas, this is not Dana's idea," Levi quickly defended. The doctor arrived early from the hospital and joined the planning.

"Defending her again, Levi?" Lucas obviously dislikes it so much whenever Levi takes her side. "You're supposed to be her doctor and yet you failed to see that she is just pretending to lose her memory!"

Danie bit her lip and bowed her head. She was guilty as charged. But this wasn't the first time that Lucas talked about her pretense. She wasn't sure if the rest were just choosing to believe Dr. Levi's words over than the judgement of a businessman or they simply didn't think that her memory was important to give justice to the deaths of Jane and Ruth.

"Dana," Esther whispered, her hold on her hand tightened as if to warn her of something.

Before Danie could realize what was happening, one large hand was already around her neck. She turned blue as Lucas' grip tightened.

"When are you going to admit the truth? Does it satisfy you so much to fool the people around you?" Lucas's death glare and painful words hurt her more than his grip around her neck.

No. It never satisfied her. Not even once. It wasn't her intention to fool everyone. She has her reasons! But telling him would do her no good. He had already shut her off.

"Lucas, let her go!" Levi was already clenching his fists on the side. "Now! You'd kill her!"

Elijah, Ezekiel and Esther were terrified but cannot do anything to defy their older brother.

"You want to hit me for this liar? Come on, Levi. Hit your brother!" He challenged Levi who was already angry. He seemed to be going to attack Lucas anytime.

"D-doc-tor," Danie attempted to calm him down, it's true that she was a liar. But she didn't wish to see these two brothers fight one another because of her. "D-don't."

"Ah, so you're also concerned about him, huh?" Lucas mocked. "Dear Dana, do you really want me to send you to your death without admitting the truth first? Don't you know that once you're dead, you can no longer make amends?"

"P-please," she begged. "L-let me go."

"Lucas!" Suddenly, Mirriam's voice filled their ears. "What are you doing?!" She rushed towards them while still holding a ladle. She was obviously in the kitchen when the three younger siblings called their mother.

"Your lucky again this time, Dana." Lucas loosened her grip around her neck as he whispered to her ear. "But so you know, I will not stop until you tell us the truth."

Danie gasped for breath when Lucas finally let her go. Levi was by her side at once to check on her.

Mirriam hit Lucas with her ladle multiple times while crying.

"I didn't raise you like this, Lucas! When did your heart turned so hard that you cannot forgive?!"

"When?" He asked back. "Maybe the moment you allowed this liar to replace Ruth in your lives!" He continued with pained voice.

Mirriam was taken a back. She stopped hitting Lucas and just cried.

"You and everyone, you let that woman live so peacefully here without trying to find out if she's really a good person or just a pretentious one!"

"You're wrong, Lucas." Mirriam tried to hold his son but Lucas turned around and left, leaving his crying mother behind.

"Mom, stop crying..." Esther, Elijah and Ezekiel went to comfort their mother.

Levi stayed beside Dana, doing the duties of a doctor. When he was sure that she's okay, he went to check on Mirriam.

"Am I a bad mother?" She asked.

"No, mom. Lucas just chose to harden his heart." Levi hugged Mirriam and the latter seemed to be comforted.

"I'm sorry, Auntie," Danie apologized. She was feeling too much guilt in her heart. She wanted to cry. It pains her to see a family breaking apart because of her.

Perhaps, she was really selfish.

"Dana," Mirriam gently said. "I want you to know that I do not regret ever allowing you to be one of us. Don't take Lucas' words to your heart. You're not Ruth and each of us know that. You are Dana. And I'm saying this again, we do not blame you at all."

When Mirriam hugged her, Dana broke down to tears.

"Forgive me!"

How could she be so cruel to deny them the truth? She wasn't only a liar. She was also a coward. She was too scared that she was choosing to fool these people who were so kind to her rather than facing her problems alone.

'Forgive me... I am not ready yet...' she thought. But she knew, sooner or later, she had to leave to fix her life and get to the bottom of the problem.

"Don't cry, sweet girl," Mirriam affectionately cupped her face and made her look into her eyes. "No matter what the truth is, know that we're not to judge you. Alright?"

Danie nodded while Mirriam dried her tears.

"And don't worry, these four here loves you. And I believe that the moment Lucas chooses to let go of the past, he will see that you're a good person." Mirriam hugged her once again. "And he will regret being mean to you."

Danielle found comfort in her arms. The hug of a mother, they say that it works like magic. A pained child would go seek his mother and everything will be alright as long as mommy was there.

She didn't experience that magic. Or perhaps she was too young to remember her own mother's embrace. But now, in the arms of the woman who gave birth to the person who hated her so much, she felt the magic. It was amazing how a simple hug could erase the pain of the heart...