Chelsea’s Point of View
“Cordelia…” I called with a small smile, her green eyes lit up at me as she came inside the restaurant I worked in. She had told me she would join her friends in a study group, seems like they were done sturdying but she didn’t go home straight today.
“Are you still working?” she asked as she neared the counter, her eyes looking around the empty parlor. “No customers?”
“Yeah, we are closed,” I muttered dryly. Helping my colleagues clear the table since we were about to close up. “We’ll lock out in five minutes.”
“Alright, hi Ben… hi Lydia.” She waved her hands towards my colleagues who smiled warmly at her.
A small smile reached my face, the radiance Cordelia brought with her was just so calming, and I shrugged at least life is working out for one of us. They quickly sparked a conversation between themselves, and their dialogue dissolved into the atmosphere around me, the only thing my mind was focused on was how to get the stain out of this table.
I was tired, I wanted to go home, I need to sleep…..I am hungry.
A small gasp escaped my semi–parted lips when I heard my phone ring, the sudden vibration knocking me out of my trance. The parlor fell silent as all their eyes were on me.
“Dad?” My eyes narrowed. He’s never called me out of the blue before, a frown crossed my eyebrows.
“What is it?” I snapped as I answered the phone call, walking towards the counter and away from the small crowd.
“Chelsea…?” I heard his voice, a low grumble from the other end of the phone and he slurred the rest of the words. “I–I need you to come right now.”
“Come… where?” my fist tightened and anger boiled inside me again. “Dad, don’t tell me you’re drunk?”
The line fell silent, his silence confirming my suspicion.
“Why do you keep doing this?” I snapped feeling my body shake slightly, my voice lowered because I didn’t want Cordelia to know about this. “Why can’t you just act right?”
“I–I’m sorry.” He mumbled again.
“But I did p–promise to be careful and that’s the reason I’m calling y–you.” He answered his voice resolutely, he sighed briefly, and suddenly I felt bad for shouting at him. “I could try to get home, but I’m so dizzy. I can’t even see properly. Please help me, Chelsea.”
I shut my eyes tightly, my fingertips massaging my temple, and let out a sharp growl.
“Ugh! Fine!” I snapped. “Where are you?”
“By the coffee shop at the third avenue of Longman Street.” He rambled, his voice shook and I could tell he was just trying his best not to collapse. A drunk man in the middle of the streets, so late at night.
He will be prone to harm, and even worse, he might be mugged.
e from this
“Don’t move a muscle, I’ll come and get you.” I declared, luckily the coffee shop is just a strolling d restaurant. I’ll make Ben walk Chelsea home for me, while I go pick up my troublesome father. “Try to remain conscious and don’t speak to strangers. No one can know you’re drunk.” I advised him.
“Yes…” he answered and I nodded.
1/4
53%
Chapter 90
“C–Chelsea “I heard his voice just before I could end the phone call. “I promise that I’m going to change
Lacoffed
“You have said that ten times this week? I accused.
“Yeah because I’m working towards it” He answered, and my shoulders sagged in defeat. I didn’t have the strength to argue with him any longer, the sincerity in his voice seemed to affect me in a way I couldn’t explain.
“Alright, Father, Keep your promise this time” I put the phone away quickly and then turned towards Cordelia whose nose scrunched in surprise. “Can you go home on your own?”
“Why?” she queried with wide eyes. “I want us to walk home together”
“I’ll ask Ben to walk you home, I need to go pick up Dad,” I answered and she rolled her eyes,
“He’s drunk again” I sucked in my lips hating to admit it but I had no choice but to nod, “I’ll make herbal tea for his hangover”
“Thank you, honey” I patted her head softly.
I tightened my coat around myself as I doubled my steps heading towards the 3rd avenue like my father had described.
“Shit!” I cursed under my breath, I felt my teeth clatter together because of the cold gust of wind, any minute from now it would start raining.
I can’t bring father back home in the rain…
A small thunder crash echoed and a small scream escaped my mouth. God, how I hate thunders. As if that wasn’t enough the rain started, small pellets of water drummed against my head and my face, and almost immediately I started sprinting.
“Ooh!” a small squeak escaped me when I saw the tall figure of a man leaning against the traffic pole on the other side of the road. I think he noticed me too, because he straightened up and waved at me, cars honking as they rushed to cross the
traffic.
A small gasp of relief escaped me, even though he was drunk, he wasn’t too drunk. I was relieved that I didn’t have to look for him.
Soon the traffic allowed pedestrian crossing, and he stumbled towards me, with a lazy smile on his face. How could he be so optimistic while this rain was pouring down heavily?
I felt a small swell of pity in my chest. He was just barely holding on, I guess I can cut him some slacks.
I raised my hands about to wave back at him, but my eyes widened in horror, the small smile disappearing from my face, I heard the sound first.
The nasty sound of tires screeching aggressively on the road, and a crashing sound as a random red car who didn’t obey the traffic ran over him.
He was so close…
He was so close to reaching me.
“Father!” I let out a blood–curdling scream, the car’s tires screeched again as they ran over his body ar distance. A small gasp escaped me as realization dawned on me, I ran as fast as my legs could carry
then raced into the
hasing after the car.
“Stop right there!” I screamed, my heart racing against my ribcage, suddenly, I didn’t care about the rain or the pain in my
back.
2/4
ter 20
The car didn’t stop neither did I, but soon enough my strength began to falter.
“TK–150/02!” I yelled as I ran after the car. My eyes picked the numbers from the plate. “TK–150/02!”
+58
I repeated the number as much as I could, as many times as I could say it, the car didn’t stop and I was unable to catch up.
I quickly brought out my phone to type in the plate number.
“TK–150/02,”
“199, what’s your emergency?” the receiver asked, my breath came out in labored pants as I struggled with my words, running back to where my father’s body lay.
“There has been a hit and run, my father needs help,” I said as coherently as I could be. “The driver didn’t stop. And my father isn’t moving.”
“Where is your location?” the receiver asked with urgency.
“We are at the 3rd Avenue, Longman Street,” I answered
“We have some of our officers headed your way now with an ambulance.”
“Father!” I yelled running back to him, the rain wasn’t letting up and there was barely anyone who could help me. “Father.” My knees crushed against the tarred road. Blood seeped from his still body.
“No!” my shaky hands tried to reach for him but I was afraid touching him might cause him more harm.
I see it in movies. They always warned people from touching patients, I’m not supposed to move him, but I needed him to respond to me.
“Father please…” I begged.
“Chel…sea…” it was faint, but I heard him whisper. “M–My lovely daughter.”
Tears slipped out of my eyes, I shouldn’t have let him cross the road on his own.
I should have gone to him, but the driver had beaten the traffic, and even though they hit someone, they didn’t wait.
“My father please don’t speak too much, try to conserve your energy,” I said. “Help is on the way, you’ll be fine.”
“I–I’m so sorry.” His voice was hoarse and faint, it made my heart pound like crazy, I was afraid. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be the father you deserved. I–I’m sorry I didn’t give you the family you deserve.”
“Father stop saying those things, please. I have never wanted anyone else to be my father. I don’t care if you don’t do anything else but drink.” Tears slipped uncontrollably from my eyes. “I am grateful for what I have, so please just conserve your energy and stop talking!”
Maybe I was going crazy but I heard him chuckle lightly. “You’re a good sister… a good d–daughter.” He coughed out blood and I shook, my sanity barely hanging. “No matter what happens, I–I’m proud of you, my Chelsea.”
I stared at the ceiling in my room, the memories of that night crashing back at me. I didn’t think of my father so often but today I dreamt about him, I sat up and wiped the tears from the edge of my eyes.
I swear I’m not going to stop looking for that murderer. No matter what it takes.
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