*Lumi* "Iskä !" I hold out my arms as I see my father walk through the door. I have always been a daddy's girl. "Kultsi". He booms, walking briskly over to my bed hugging me in that way that makes me feel like a little girl again. "How are you feeling ?" I snuggle into his strong embrace. "I am okay daddy, everything considered. But I am really happy to see you". "I am sorry I couldn't be here earlier Kultsi, but you know how work is". He says, smiling warmly at me. "So mom is telling me that you found yourself a good man ?" I feel my cheeks flushing slightly. My father's approval means everything to me. "I did iskä. He is the best ... in many ways he reminds me of you". "I am looking forward to meeting him, Kultsi, if he can tame my little lynx he has to be some kind of man". He grins at me, making me blush even more. "Daddy !" I giggle. I know Luca is very nervous about meeting him and I hope my father is going to behave. "I am not that bad". He chuckles. "You are strong an
1 week later *Meri* "Meri … Meri, stop for a moment, I just want to talk". Fuck it's Daniel calling my name, and I have nowhere to escape. I blocked him after the day I broke up with Tom. He has tried talking to me a couple of times since, but I managed to avoid him. "What is it Daniel ?" I stop and turn to face him, when I realise that I can't get away. He smiles at me like we are best friends. "How is your sister doing ? Ready for her transplant ?" Turns out his mom is a nurse at the hospital, that is how he keeps himself updated. "It's going fine, thanks … and talking of my sister, I have to go visit her". "It's such a great thing you are doing, giving her your marrow, you are a wonderful person". He reaches out to caress my arm and I back off. "Not really, she is my sister, my twin, everyone would have done the same". I am backing away slowly. I feel cornered and just insecure. He just follows me, a smile on his face. "So you dumped that old fart I hear. Was it because
*Luca* Honestly I am holding my breath waiting for her to say something. Maybe I shouldn't have, maybe it's too much. I just ... well I saw the ring in a window and thought that it was exactly the kind of ring Lumi would love. Suddenly it hit me that she could actually die. I might never get a chance to buy a ring like that, to propose to her, to call her mine. I had found myself standing in the middle of the street crying, making people look at me like I was some kind of freak. And I went right inside and bought it, wondering how to give it to her. And thinking about it I realised how crushed I would be if I never got the chance to tell her. To prove that I am serious and in this for the long run. And I decided to put my heart and soul out there. No matter what she says, I have made my intentions and feelings clear. But now after asking I realised that a rejection might crush me as well, and part of me regret asking. "Lumi ? Baby say something". "You ... Did you just propose to
3 days later *Meri* I am on my way to my parents rental car in the underground parking lot at the hospital. My father told me I could take it as I need to get home and finish some homework before school tomorrow. It will be my last day for at least a week, the day after tomorrow we are starting the transfusion, so I am turning in some extra assignments. My parents wanted to stay with Lumi a little longer, as she is very weak now and scared. Luca is with her too, actually he is almost all of the time. He is only leaving when the hospital staff kicks him out. What he did, proposing to her like that, it's the most romantic thing ever and I truly pray they will get their happily ever after. I hate these places, too much darkness, too many corners and too much dust. Didn't I hear a sound ? No, probably it's just my imagination. Then my phone starts buzzing and I jump like half a meter. "Fuck !" Pulling out the phone I see that it is Tom calling. It is the first time he has contacted
*Luca* I run out into the hospital waiting room. Tom texted me to come out there right away, that it was very important. I look up at the tv screen, some accident, car smashed and burned with the driver inside. Tom comes walking in, white as a sheet, his eyes wild looking. "Luca please tell me Meri is in there, that she came back". "Uh no ... she left about an hour ago". He closes his eyes. "Tom ! What is wrong Tom". "I was talking to her ... she was driving". The tears has started streaming down his face. "There was a loud noise and she screamed, saying that someone bumped her car from behind. Then another sound and the line went dead". He points to the tv screen. "Please tell me that it's not her car". I look at the screen again. Fuck ! Oh no. I swallow. "I ... it could be ... maybe it's not, it could be someone else". "She can't be dead Luca ... oh God ... what if it's her ?" He looks so scared and desperate and I pull him in for a hug. "I am sure she is okay Tom". My voice
*Tom* I am sitting in the hospital bed, trying to make the world start to move again. I am still on some kind of medication, dulling my senses and honestly I am kind of happy about it as I am not sure I would have gotten through the night without it. This must be what hell feels like. I can't believe she is gone, that I will never see her again, never watch her smile, never feel her lips on mine. It can't be right, they keep telling me there is no doubt, but why does it feel so wrong then ? There is a small knock on the door and Luca peaks in. "Can I come in, Tom ?" "Yeah sure". I look at my hands. "How is Lumi doing ?" "She insists that Meri isn't dead". He comes in, no doubt he hasn't slept all night, his face looking tired and drawn. "I have something for you that ... Gabriel thought you might want it back". He holds out his hand. The ring, my grandmother's ring. It is slightly sodden and I swallow a lump. "I ... I can't bear to look at it". "It was your grandmother's right
Next day*Meri* So far Daniel hasn't hurt me. He comes in often and just sits down to talk to me. It's a bit creepy because he acts like we are on a date or something. I mostly don't answer him, afraid I am going to yell at him and make him angry. He has shown me clips from tv, the accident where I supposedly died. My parents' grief stricken faces. Tom, pale and with red eyes, leaving the hospital with a stoic looking Zac acting as a bodyguard, shielding him from the cameras. I want to reach for them, to tell them that I am here, that I am alive. Zac seems to be the one holding everything and everyone together, but I had seen how his hands were shaking and the way his eyes seemed vacant. Without me there is no way to cure Lumi. I need to get to her before it's too late. The door opens and Daniel walks in. He has some kind of bowl in his hand and a wash cloth over his arm. "Good morning darling, time for your bath". "Can I shower ?" I don't know whether to be happy or not. So far
*Luca*"So why weren't you opening when we rang the bell ... when you were home ?" Tom is glaring daggers at Daniel.He crosses his arms ignoring Tom's question. "What are you and that ... buffoon doing on my property ? How did you even get in ?""We jumped the wall". I say, seeing Tom suppress a chuckle. "Why didn't you answer ?""It's my right not to answer, especially people I don't want to talk to". He glares at Tom. "But if you want to know, I am in mourning and want to be left alone".Tom narrows his eyes, glaring at him. "In mourning ? Oh you better not be meaning what I think you mean"."Sorry she left you for me. But seriously what did you expect ? You could almost be her father ... I am her age, and I am very much richer than you".I quickly grab Tom, afraid he is going to explode, but he just sends me a smile. "Thanks Luca, but I am in control ... I am not going to choke the bastard even if he deserves it"."Scared old man, that you can't take me". Daniel chips at Tom, maki