A Familiar Face

Daniella slowly opened her tiny eyes as she rubbed her hands across them trying to clear  way for a better vision. 

It was morning already but instead of meeting the usual calm comfortable home she met an unrecognized environment. The house was too calm and the aura wasn’t really good. But I mean she’s just a child what does she know

She dragged her legs down the queen size mattress she slept on every day as her tiny feet met the cold color.

“Papa?” She called out softly as she walked out of the room using her eyes to scan the long corridor they led to the living room. 

Everything felt different, usually her father would walk into the room to wake her up but this time she couldn’t even find him.

“Papa?” She called out again as she approached the living room. She found him sitting quietly, his head lowered down and his elbow resting upon his laps for support. 

“Papa” she called out again this time almost like a whisper 

Derrick looked up his eyes catching a glimpse of his little human standing in front of him putting on just painties he smiled staring at her 

“Ohh pumpkin you’re awake” he forced himself to speak as he scoped her off the ground. 

Daniella noticed, yes she was just a child but she wasn’t dumb she opened her mouth to speak when 

“Derrick!” 

A familiar voice from outside called their attention instantly. 

Daniella's face lit up and she recognized that voice clearly. 

She playfully poked her dad on the legs so he released her back to the ground.

“Uncle” she screamed as she ran outside straight into his arms embracing the young man in his late 20s.

“There you are my little star” uncle Gideon screamed as he carried Daniella from the ground. 

The young man who walked in didn’t carry any energy from the previous night, he looked calm, energetic and for some reason so excited to see his niece. 

Uncle Gideon was Derrick's younger brother who lives in the extreme end of the city, he has been the sweetest family member they had, especially when Emily Daniella’s mother was alive. She was always spoiling him with lots of food, taking care of him and making sure he was always welcomed whenever he came to the house. 

Sometimes he would stay days in their house so relaxed and not even getting bothered to go home, uncle Gideon was a martial art trainer, he never settled down or got a wife let alone starting his own family he was just a man who enjoyed his own company and peace. 

And when Daniella was born he grew so fond of her that they were inseparable. Most nights when Daniella was much younger she’d start crying and even when everyone in the house would do everything to stop her if uncle Gideon had not carried her she wouldn't stop, that’s how close their relationship was. 

“What’s  going on?” Gideon asked his older brother as he could see the cold look in his eyes. 

“What are you doing here?” Derrick asked so coldly 

“Can’t I come to see my family again?” Gideon queried mocking him 

“What’s going on in your mind?” He asked again getting all curious 

Derrick looked at him trying to hesitate but the words slipped out of his mouth. 

“Some men came here last night” his voice broke 

Gideon looked at him not really shocked or super but more interested 

“What kind of men?” He asked this time dropping Daniella off to listen properly 

“They say they want a child!” 

“They say their employer needed a heart” 

For a moment neither of them spoke, they just looked at each other shocked trying to process the whole thing. 

Gideon threw his eyes at Daniella and then back at Derrick 

“And what did you tell them?” He asked, trying to properly place the information. 

“I told them to leave!” 

“And they left?” He threw again 

“Listen don’t you think this is some kind of joke, I mean it doesn’t even make sense” He scoffed still trying to understand the whole situation properly 

“Are you sure?” He tried to drag the issue further but Derrick cut him short 

“These people are real, no one would randomly walk to my door and say stuff in the middle of the night” he defended trying to maintain a calm tone so Daniella won’t notice something is wrong. 

The young man stared confused without finding the right words to solve the situation, he looked lost. 

“Ok listen, you need to calm down, you’re acting like the world is already over. I think you need to clear your head” Gideon smiled. 

“Clear my head,How?” 

“There’s a gathering tonight, you need to step out clear your head man since you lost your wife it feels like we’ve lost you too, Emily would not be happy seeing you this way”  he explained further. 

“Uhm… I can’t go anywhere tonight, what if something happens?” He asked, his face growing with anxiety. 

“Come on man, you’re not a kid anymore” Gideon burst into laughter. 

“Ok fine, and Daniella? Where would she stay? I can't stay away from her and I can’t take her to a gathering where men drink and smoke” he dragged on the argument hoping his brother would drop it. 

But obviously Derrick knew his brother he’d never drop an argument. He has a way of winning everything and that one trait of his is something he admired, but in this situation he was silently praying he doesn’t use that in him tonight. 

“She will be fine bro, we could leave her in the car or drop her off someone safe come on” he persuaded him more. 

“Come on don’t you trust me” he pulled him harder 

Of course he trusted him, this was his brother, the only person who believed in him while growing up, the only person who supported him when he wanted to get married to Emily, the only one who grew so fond of Daniella. 

“Fine let’s go” he nodded slowly looking as his brother screamed 

“Yes!” Jumping all over the place. 

Derrick couldn’t help but laugh at his reactions.