Chapter 75

The hospital room was silent except for the steady beeping of the heart monitor. Kiara lay in bed, pale and weak, with an IV drip attached to her arm. Her family and friends were gathered around her, looking worried and anxious.

Suddenly, the door opened and Lucas walked in. He looked tired and worried, with dark circles under his eyes. Kiara's family members greeted him with surprise and some hesitation, given their rocky past. However, Lucas walked straight to Kiara's bedside, ignoring the awkwardness in the room.

"Hey, how're you feeling?" he asked softly, touching her hand gently.

Kiara's eyes flickered open, and she looked up at him with a weak smile. "Lucas...," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Lucas leaned in closer, listening intently to her words. Kiara's eyes welled up with tears as she spoke. "I'm so sorry... for everything. I don't want to die without telling you how sorry I am."

Lucas took her hand in his, squeezing it gently. "You're not going to die. You're going to get better, I promise." he said.

A week later, Kiara walked into her living room, where Martha was busily dusting the furniture. She was feeling much better now and she knew she had to thank Lucas for aiding her recovery. She knew that if it wasn't for him, she would have probably still be laying on the bed, a broken mess. She looked up and smiled at Kiara. "Good morning, Miss Kiara. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Kiara smiled back, and sat down on the sofa. "No, Martha. I just wanted to have a chat with you."

Martha stopped dusting, and sat down beside Kiara. "Of course, Miss Kiara. What's on your mind?"

"Well, Martha," Kiara began, "I wanted to tell you that Lucas has been really nice to me lately. We've been talking, and he's been helping me with some things around the house. It's been really nice to have him around."

Martha looked at her sympathetically. "I'm sorry if it's causing you any pain, Miss Kiara. I know the divorce was hard on you."

Kiara nodded. "It was. And it's just strange to have him back in my life, even if it's just as a friend. Sometimes I feel really sad about the divorce, and I just need to talk to someone about it."

Martha patted Kiara's hand. "Of course, Miss Kiara. You can always talk to me, i'm always here.'' Martha smiled.

Kiara was grateful for Martha and she knew she couldn't take her friendship for granted. She meant so much to her and her to Kiara. A while later, Kiara's phone gave a small beep, indicating she had a call.

Kiara's phone started buzzing loudly on the kitchen counter. She picked it up and saw that the call was from Lucas, her ex-husband. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should answer it or not, but then decided to pick up.

"Hello, Lucas," she said, her voice a bit shaky.

"Hi, Kiara. How are you doing?" Lucas asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

"I'm doing okay," Kiara replied, trying to sound casual.

"I just wanted to check in and see how you're feeling. I heard that you've been under the weather lately," Lucas said.

Kiara was touched by his concern. Despite their messy divorce two years ago, Lucas still cared about her well-being.

"Yes, I've been a bit sick," Kiara said. "But I'm starting to feel better now."

"That's good to hear. Is there anything I can do to help? Maybe bring over some soup or medicine?" Lucas offered.

Kiara felt a lump form in her throat. No one had shown her such kindness in a while.

"Thank you, but I'll be okay," Kiara said, struggling to keep her voice steady. "I really appreciate your concern though. It means a lot to me.'' Kiara said.

''You're welcome! Please take care of yourself.'' he said before cutting the call.

****************

Kiara stood before her father's grave, clutching a small bouquet of flowers. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice as she spoke.

"Hey, Dad," she began, "it's been a while since I last visited. I'm sorry about that. It's just...hard, you know?"

She paused, looking down at the headstone. Her father's name was etched into the stone, and she traced her fingers over the letters.

"I miss you so much," she continued, her voice starting to waver. "Every day, I think about you. I wonder what it would be like if you were still here with us. I wish you could see how much I've grown, how much I've accomplished. But I guess you already know, don't you?"

Kiara laughed through her tears, a bittersweet sound. She leaned down and placed the bouquet on the grave, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

"I know you're proud of me, Dad," she said. "I can feel it. And I promise I'll keep making you proud. Even though you're not here with me, you'll always be a part of me. I love you and i will always do.'' she smiled.

She stayed some more beside her father's grave, tears streaming down her face. She felt the weight of his absence more than ever in that moment. But she knew she had to be strong. She knew she had to keep going, to make him proud.

"Hey Dad," she said again," She paused, taking a deep breath. "I just want you to know that I'm going to make you proud. I promise."

Kiara closed her eyes, as if summoning her father's presence. "I know you always wanted the best for me, and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure I live up to that. I'm going to work hard, and I'm going to succeed. And I'm going to do it all for you."

She opened her eyes, looking down at the grave. "I hope you can hear me, Dad. I hope you know how much I love you, and how much you mean to me. I'll always carry you in my heart."

Kiara took a deep breath, wiping away her tears. She turned and walked away from the grave, feeling a sense of purpose and determination wash over her anew.