Chapter 3 Will You Be My Friend?

Luke’s P.O.V.

I lose track of how long I’ve been admiring Hope. To my surprise, from the moment my eyes fall on this little bundle of joy, a beatific smile refuses to leave my face. It’s a smile that has been missing from my life for so long.

Who is this girl? What is she doing to me? Why am I drawn to her? Maybe it’s because she reminds me of Daisy. Hope’s hair is exactly like hers. Whatever it is, there is something special about her that brings peace to my heart, a peace I have never felt before.

But do I deserve this? Do I deserve to be happy? Does a monster like me deserve this peace?

Although I know I don’t deserve these things in my life, I still want to stay with Hope.

Haven’t I punished myself enough by depriving myself of all the pleasures of life? For five years, I have been running from happiness because I wanted to make myself suffer.

Even though I want to punish myself until my last breath, it’s getting hard now. I’m yearning for peace and happiness. I’m longing to meet Daisy. Where could she be? I hope she is fine and has found the happiness she deserves. However, the thought of her marrying someone else drives me crazy. I know I have no right to her and she can never be mine again, but I still go insane when I imagine her with someone else.

My trance break hearing Hope’s teacher’s voice, “Hope, let’s go, baby. Your Mommy will be here in a few minutes.”

As she completes her sentence, I feel uneasy. I don’t know why, but I don’t want her to go. I want her to stay with me a little longer. The mere thought of her going away is making my heart ache.

For the first time, my heart longs for someone other than Daisy.

Daisy loved me like no one else ever did, yet I shattered her heart like a monster. I’m aware the pain I’m experiencing pales in comparison to what she endured. I fully deserve whatever fate has brought upon me. This anguish is insignificant compared to the sin I committed by destroying the soul of someone so innocent.

Again, I drown myself in the pool of guilt, but I feel a soft touch on my palm, pulling me back to reality.

I look at Hope, who is already staring at me with a sad pout.

“What happened, Hope?” I ask, giving her a small smile, or should I say I try to smile because the emotions I’m going through are far from a smile.

She shakes her head. “Nothing.”

I carefully help her get off the bench, and she doesn’t look away from me. She just keeps staring at me with her innocent blue eyes, which makes me want to hold on to her a little longer than usual.

I part my lips to tell her I’m going to miss her a lot, but before that, her teacher cuts me off.

“Let’s go, Hope. Your mom just messaged me she will be here in two minutes,” she informs Hope, holding her hand before glancing at the phone and keeping it back in her pocket.

Hope nods at her before giving me a glance, while I feel myself rooted to the bench, as if my legs will give up as soon as I stand. I look at the tiny bundle of joy who walks away from me, making me feel a sudden emptiness.

“Wait, teacher,” Hope suddenly says, stopping, and before I know it, she comes running towards me. In reaction, I kneel to her level, and before I know it, her tiny hands are already wrapped around my neck.

Although the distance between us is not more than twenty meters, the way she rushes towards me and hugs me makes me want to just engulf her hard in my protective arms and never let her go.

“I really want to spend some more time with you, uncle.” She confesses, peeping from my neck, looking at me with a small pout, causing me to smile at her.

Seriously, she is so adorable.

“Aww, Hope. Please, don’t be sad.” I coo, patting her head. As we pull apart, I clasp her face. “I promise you, I’ll visit you again.”

“Really, uncle?” Her eyes sparkle with joy.

“Yes, kiddo.” I nod, slightly pinching her nose.

“Wow! When?” She asks, her voice laced with enthusiasm.

“After your school.”

“When?”

“Soon, baby.”

“You’re the best, uncle. I like you,” she squeals, embracing me again.

I wrap my arms around her, feeling her small frame pressed against me. It’s a moment of pure warmth and connection, a feeling I haven’t experienced in a long time.

“I like you too, Hope,” I whisper, my voice filled with genuine emotion.

She pulls away and beams up at me, her eyes shining. “Uncle, will you become my friend?”

“Of course, why not?” I immediately accept her friendship proposal.

Hope’s face lights up with excitement. “Yippie. We’ll have more ice cream together, won’t we?”

I chuckle. “Absolutely! We’ll have many more ice creams, kiddo.”

As I stand straight, Hope clasps my hand, not wanting to let go. I walk her back to her teacher, who smiles warmly at us. “Thank you for taking care of Hope.”

“It was my pleasure, but you should be more careful next time. Parents trust you and leave their kids in your hand, so it’s your duty to keep them safe.” I instruct her in a stern tone because I can’t even imagine something happening to Hope.

“I’ll be more careful next time.”

Hope turns to me and wraps her arms around my legs. “Bye, Uncle! See you soon!”

“Goodbye, Hope. Take care and be safe.” I stroke her hair.

“You too.” She replies, giving me her toothy smile.

Daisy’s P.O.V.

I reach Hope’s school, scolding myself the entire way. How can I get so late?

I step out of the cab and rush to my daughter, who stands holding her teacher’s hand with a sad pout. I’ve made her upset by making her wait for me for so long.

As her eyes fall on me, they sparkle. I kneel on the floor and yank her into my arms. “Mommy is extremely sorry for making you wait so much, Hopi.”

“I missed you, Mommy.” As she embraces me, tears trickle down my cheeks.

As we pull apart, Hope’s eyes widen at the sight of tears in my eyes. “Mommy, why are you crying?”

“Mommy is so sorry for making you wait.” I stare at her with guilt in my eyes.

“It’s okay, Mommy.” She gently wipes off my tears with her tiny hands, and a smile flashes on my face, listening to her words. “It’s not your fault. It’s traffic’s fault.”

I clasp her hands and kiss them.

I move my eyes to her teacher, Emily, and stand up. “Thank you for taking care of my daughter in my absence.”

Before she can respond, Hope tugs at my dress, calling me. “Mommy.” As I lower my gaze to her, she continues, “I got good company when you weren’t here.”

“I know, Hope, your teacher’s company is great—”

“Mommy, I’m not talking about my teacher.” She slightly slaps her head, causing my brows to narrow in confusion.

“Then whom?”

“I’ll tell you everything. First, let me get into the car. I’m sweating. It’s so hot.” She waves her hand, causing me to smile.

Only she knows how to steal my heart with her adorable antics.

“Okay, let’s go, my cutie.” I stand up and carry her in my arms.

“Thank you once again, Miss Emily.”

“Anytime, Miss Daisy.” She shifts her gaze to Hope. “Take care, Hope. See you tomorrow.”

“Ta-ta, teacher.” Hope waves at her, and then I led her to the car.

***

As we make our way back home, sitting in the car backseat, Hope exclaims, “Mommy, you know what happened today with your Hopi?”

“What happened, baby?” I ask, tucking her blonde locks behind her ears.

“While I was waiting with my teacher for you, I saw an ice-cream van,” she begins, her voice filled with anticipation. She licks her lips, imagining the delicious taste of ice cream. “I couldn’t resist. My legs carried me towards the ice-cream van, and my teacher didn’t notice. But when I was crossing the road, a car came rushing towards me, but...”

My heart skips a beat as I listen to her words. A car was about to hit her. Shit. Now I regret getting late. How can I be so careless?

“Are you okay, baby?” I ask, my voice filled with concern, caressing her hair and scanning her body to ensure she was unharmed.

“Oh, Mommy, I’m okay because a tall uncle saved me.” She reassures me, and I breathe a sigh of relief, grateful for the stranger who protected my precious baby.

“And guess what? He even bought me my favourite ice cream,” she adds, her face lighting up at the memory. “You know, his favourite flavour is chocolate, just like mine. He’s a really good and sweet uncle. I really like him.”

I smile, overwhelmed with gratitude to the stranger for protecting my daughter. “Yes, he truly is a wonderful uncle. He saved you, my baby.” I reply, holding her close on my lap and planting a soft kiss on her head.

And I want to meet the person who saved Hope and thank him.