Moving On

Maria didn’t know how long she sat on the floor in the hospital. All she knew was that her entire world just turned upside down. She knew that someone was holding her. She didn't remember who. She didn't care. She looked up and saw her father's head resting on the bed, he was obviously crying. She knew he hardly ever knew she existed so she was determined to show him she could make it on her own.

Michael held Maria he didn't know what to do. She had stopped crying but hadn't moved until now she looked up at her father. He knew he had to act now or something else was going to happen. Slowly he let her go and moved in front of her. It was almost as if she were looking right through him. She didn' t move or say anything just stared straight ahead. She sat leaning against the wall her knees pulled up close to her chin in a tight little ball. Michael took off his jacket and placed it around her and picked her up carefully. She finally realized what was going and on held on to him tightly. He walked out of the hospital room not looking back. He carried her out to the car and placed her on her feet at the door. He unlocked and sat her in the seat reaching around to fasten her seatbelt. He drove home slowly knowing that if he got any sleep tonight he would be lucky. She was too calm it was as if she were frozen. He knew that the dam holding in her feelings was going to break soon. He pulled into the driveway and slowly she unfastened her seatbelt. He looked over at her and saw tears streaming down her face. He got out of the car and opened her door. He reached in and had all intention of carrying her inside when she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close.

"Why ,Mi? Why did she have to leave me?"

"I don't know. I'm so sorry, Ria."

He carried her to the front door his mother had seen him coming from the window and opened the door as he reached it. Jenny's eyes were red rimmed from crying but she knew she had to be there for her children. Not only did she need to be there for her son but now for the little girl who grew to be a daughter to her. Michael gently put Maria down on the couch and sat next to her. Jenny sat on the other side and touched Maria's face. Her face was tear streaked and had makeup that had run down on her cheeks. She looked so exhausted and hurt. Jenny hugged her tight and let her cry some more. Michael went upstairs and grabbed some clean clothes for Maria to sleep in and brought them downstairs. When he came back down Maria had stopped crying and was shivering where she sat. He gave the clothes to his mother and went to change his clothes in his room. He knew his mother would get her to take a shower and hopefully that might help her feel a little bit better. When he came back downstairs he heard the shower running and Maria wasn't on the couch. His mother sat there with a blank look on her face. This was all so unreal. He didn't think anything like this would ever happen to anyone he knew. Jenny looked up and saw Michael. She stood up and hugged him. He felt so lucky right then because right at this moment he had his mother.

"I love you mom"

"I love you too, Michael"

Maria came out of the bathroom in the sweats and tee shirt that Michael had brought down for her. She still hadn't spoken since she came inside. She looked at Michael and Jenny. She shook for a minute. She was angry again. She didn't understand why it had to be her mother. It wasn't fair. Slowly she made her way to the stairs and proceeded to Michael's room. She sat at the top of the bed her head tucked on her knees. Her head hurt. She hurt.

Michael left his mother and went upstairs he knew someone had to watch over her. He walked in the dark room seeing the huddled form sitting on the bed. She looked so small and scared. He sat next to her his shoulders touching hers. She looked up at him and he could see all the pain in her eyes. He put his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close wishing he could take all her pain away. He rubbed her back gently and told her to close her eyes. Maria felt safe. She knew that Michael wouldn't let anything happen to her. She closed her eyes and held him as if her life depended on it.

Jenny sat in the kitchen drinking a cup of tea trying to steady herself. She knew she had a lot to do now. She not only had her son to guide through life, but now Maria. She was determined to do the best job that she could. Placing her cup in the sink she decided to go and check on her children. She quietly opened the door not wanting to awaken them if they did fall asleep. Maria was wrapped in Michael's arms and the two of them fast asleep with tears on their cheeks. Grabbing an extra blanket she wrapped them in it. She thought back to when they were little and both would sleep like that together and knew it was the beginning of the healing process for both of them.

The days passed after the funeral and Maria stayed with Michael. Slowly she was talking again but everyone knew it was going to be some time before she was close to being back to her normal self. Shawn and Jody came to the house every day that was possible and after missing a week of school, Maria and Michael went back. Dom had taken things very hard. He hardly saw anyone and was trying to hide from the world. It was as if he had totally forgotten about Maria.

Once back in school and a normal routine Maria opened up bit by bit. She did more and wanted to know why her father didn't come and get her. She came in from school one day and knew he was there; his car hadn't moved from the driveway since the funeral. She dropped off her books and proceeded next door home. She wanted to see her father, wanted to know that he was alright. She needed him. She opened the front door and the house was dark. She went upstairs towards her parents bedroom and heard crying. She opened the door and saw her father lying on the bed in a tight ball. He looked terrible. He hadn't shaved in days, and his clothes were all wrinkled. He looked up at her.

"Go away. Go back to Michael's house and leave me be."

Those words stung like Maria was slapped. Determined she glared at him.

"NO! I won't go."

Tears were now streaming down Maria's cheeks as she stepped further into the room. She stood at the side of the bed and looked down at him.

"Now your going to leave me too? You are all I have and now you are dumping me too."

Dom looked up at her and what he saw broke his heart. His little girl crying at him not tears of sadness but tears of anger. She was mad at him. She turned to leave but he caught her hand. He sat up and pulled her close and hugged her tight.

"I'm so sorry baby. I'm so sorry. I am just so lost right now."

Maria pulled back and smiled at him.

"We can find the way together."

Maria went home that night and things were far from what they were used to but it was a new beginning for them.