chapter 7

After the funeral, Bastian attended a meeting, so he ordered a cab to take Patricia and Williams's home earlier. He stopped at a mini supermarket to get a chocolate for Williams on his way home.

Bastian entered the living room, and Williams ran to meet him. “Dad.”

Bastian smiled and carried Williams. He walked to the living room center and dropped him. “Here is your chocolate.”

Williams collected his chocolate, but his face was dull, making Bastian instantly noticed. 

“What happened to you?” He investigated. “What’s wrong?”

“Mum…” Williams said.

“Mum? What’s wrong with her? Where is she?” Bastian asked, worried.

Williams looked downward, confessing, “you told me to always make her happy always, but I disappointed you.”

Bastian frowned his forehead, confused. “What happened? Did you walk around again?” He interrogated.

Williams shook his head. “No, I didn’t walk around. I just requested to see the guy from the funeral ceremony,” he explained. “Mom objected. She said he was a bad guy, so I won’t meet him.”

“Which guy?” Bastian inquired.

“Mr. Cohen. He looked like a pitiful guy and I pleaded with mom to take me to him,” Williams poured out. “I just want to encourage him to not give up, and cheer him up, but mom said he is not a nice guy,”

“Mom shouted at me and ran into her room,” he narrated in a low, guilty tone, apologizing, “I'm sorry I let you down, dad.” 

Bastian smiled, patting Williams’s head. “It’s fine. You never let me down, and I am still proud of you.”

Williams grinned, feeling at ease with Bastian's words. He lifted his face to look at him. “Dad, why is mom like that?”

“I will talk to mom, so don’t worry, “ Bastian assured. “It’s late, go to bed.”

Williams hugged Bastian. “Good night, dad.”

Bastian embraced him. “Good night. Sleep well.

Williams separated his body from Bastian and walked to his room.

After watching Williams close his room’s door, Bastian took off his jacket and threw it on the sofa.

He walked to Patricia's room and knocked on the door, calling, “Patricia.”

Patricia wiped her tears and roughly cleaned her face with her hands. She stood from the bed and walked to the door, reigning a smile. 

“Welcome,” she said immediately as she opened the door. “How’s the meeting?”

Bastian would have smiled back, as always, but he didn't. Instead, he walked to the bed.

“Is this the right thing to do?” He flung a question immediately as his bottom touched the bed.

She turned to him, an unclear tone escaped her mouth. “Hun?”

“Patricia, where is the version of you who has been living a great life?” He raised another question. “You promised the old man to be happy. Is this what you call happiness?”

Hearing those questions, Patricia’s wounded heart reopened and the tears she was holding back because uncontrollably flooded out. 

He stood and walked closer to her. He held her hand and gently walked her to the bed and sat her down.

He bent before her and held her hand in his. “Tears are natural, they're unstoppable. Cry all you want and let your sadness come out with the tears.”

After watching her cry for a moment, he wiped her tears with his hand. “It’s okay,” he implored.

The tears were out of Patricia's control and she couldn't stop them from flowing.

“If this continues, you are wasting your time, tears and you will hurt your eyes,” he pointed out. “And before you do that, ask yourself if those people are worth it.”

His words worked like magic.

Tears instantly stopped streaming out of her eyes, even before her mind could process his statement. 

He held her tighter and looked straight into her eyes. “Patricia, I know it hurts, but you need to be happy. Be happy for yourself. You have to be happy for Williams. He needs you more than anyone in this world,”

“Dear, what’s broken can be mended. What hurts can be healed. And no matter how dark it gets, the sun is going to rise again,” he motivated her.

“Patricia, I can’t feel your pain, but I understand it’s difficult to forget. But, all you have to do is take your mind off their existences,

“Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy. No person can make you happy unless you decide to be happy. Your happiness will not come to you, it can only come from you,

“You have to be happy. You must be happy now that you are back to stay. There's no way you won’t cross part with them. You can’t let them see you sad or weak.”

“Back to stay?” She repeated, amazed. “I am not staying here. I am going back once the funeral is over.”

“You will stay. You must stay except if you want to lose your position.” He declared.

She gazed at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

“Today’s meeting was with the organization's shareholders. It didn't end well because they are requesting to see the new president.”

“Why?” She investigated.

“You have been in position before the old man’s death, but they aren’t interested in who you are since the late chairman was running the organization’s affairs,” he stated. “Now that he is no more, they are afraid everything will be a mess. They want you to come and give details about your plans for the organization.”

She exhaled deeply. “But-” she wanted to give an excuse, but he cut her off.

“No but, Patricia. You're the president. You're a star that needs to shine. Why hide yourself? Will you hide forever?” He put efforts into convincing her.

“You can’t hide forever. It's time you show them the real you, so you gotta get up and show them what you’ve got. Prove yourself and your worth to them.”

“I don't think I can do this, Bastian.” She voiced out.

“You can. You shouldn't make a mess with the idea that you aren’t enough,” he encouraged. 

“You get me. I will never leave you. I will guide and protect you. I will never turn against you.” He promised.

“What about Williams?” She stated her worry.

“He can also stay here.” Bastian responded.

Patricia shook her head. “No, he can't. I don't want him to know what's going on.” She pulled out. “I don't want him to ever meet Cohen again. I don't even want them anywhere near each other.”

“Okay, if you don’t want him to stay, I will send him back and enroll him in a boarding school.” He assured.

Patricia nodded, impressed. “Okay, that's a good idea.”

Bastian sighed. “So, what’s your conclusion?” He inquired.

Patricia blew air through her mouth. She gazed into Bastian’s eyes and beamed. “Bastian.” She called in a low voice.

“Ma.” He answered.

“You see, it doesn’t get better…” she said and paused.

He wore a confused expression. “What?”

She brightened her smile, still fixing her eyes on him. “The pain. The wounds and scabs over. I don't always feel like a knife slashing through me. I healed already,” she expressed. “But actually when I least expect it, the pain flashes to remind me I will never be the same,”

“Right now, I just realize it was never about them. It was me. I need to forgive myself. It’s not because they are without blame, but because I’ve been a fool. They put me last when I was putting them first,”

“It’s time to completely heal from what they never apologize for. I want to move on like I never know them… because in reality… I didn't,”

“Bastian.” She called.

“Ma.” He responded.

“I don't want to make a mess with any negative idea. I am enough. I am me. I can do it. I will do it. I will stay and fight against all odds.”