CHAPTER 5 OLD MEMORIES

The next morning, his father asked her if she was okay. She looked pale and he was quite worried as he caressed her head , she opened her eyes slowly.

“Good morning, dad,” Mia said, rubbing her eyes slowly. 

“Good morning, sweetie,” he pecked on her head. 

“Is everything okay?” he asked her, furrowing his eyebrows. 

Tom listened his daughter attentively as Mia shared her concerns about her assignments. He wanted to help her, but Mia insisted she could handle it on her own.

“I need someone’s help to answer it,” Mia admitted.

Tom immediately offered her,” I am here always to help you.”

But Mia declined, not wanting to burden her father much. 

“NO, dad. I dont want to bother you much. I know how much work load you have already. I think you should rest today rather than helping me in my assignments,” she said, giving back a reassuring smile to him.

Tom shook his head, determined to support his daughter.

“No, mia. As your father, its my duty to help you in any way I can help. I can help you with your assignment, as well. “ He patted her head.

Mia rolled her eyes and murmured slowly, “ Dad, I can just have some classmates over to help me out.”

Tom raised his eyebrow, “ you don't want me to help? But you want your classmate to come over?” 

She gave him her puppy eyes, just to prey her father. 

“So, its okay,right?” Mia asked him again.

Tom sighed, realizing Mia’s preference. “Okay, sure. Anything you want, Mia” he agreed, his love for his daughter is immense.

“Thank you so much, Daddy!” Mia exclaimed gratefully.

Tom then asked about her classmate. “What is the name of your classmate?” 

“Um, John,” Mia replied back. 

Tom narrowed his eyes curiosity, “Okay!Give him a call so you can work on your assignment inside the house.”

Mia clapped her hands excitedly and thanked her dad. She messaged John to come over and help her with their homework. 

She turned her face to her father again as many questions were running back in her mind.

“ Da, Can I ask you a question?” Mia asked.

“What is it?” Tom replied. 

Mias voice trembled slightly as she tried to put the courage. “How long has it been since the room where Mom used to stay has not been occupied?” she asked.

Tom’s was taken aback when she asked about her mother all of sudden. His expression softened as he understood Mia’s emotions.

“Its been while you asked about her. Do you miss your mother?”

Tears welled up in Mia’s eyes as she struggles to remind her mother.

“It was so painful when mom died. But I dint know how to accept the fact that she’s been gone forever. Its hard to accept that I have lost her,” she confessed her feelings.

Tom’s heart ached for his daughter.

“You have me,Mia. You will never be alone. I will always choose you, my daughter. You are the only one thing your mother left to me. I won’t lose you too.I wont let that happen ever,” he vowed, caressing her head. 

“Dad, why havent you visited that room?” Mia asked, her voice was trembling.

Tom’s gaze softened with sorrow. “Its just….its painful to look at it,” he sighed with heavy heart.

“You abandoned that room since mom died in there,” she murmured. 

Tom nodded his head sadly,” Yes, because every time I look at it, I see myself in tears. Its painful to remember that night how your mother died in my arms,” his voice was filled with sorrow.

Mia wrapped her arms around her father, she felt like ten years is just like a flash.

“Its been ten years, Mia,” tom replied.

Mia felt a pang of sadness at the thought of missing her mom and remembering her mom in her dreams.

“Its been so many years but it feels like it was just yesterday,” she said slowly.

To change the topic and lighten the mood, Tom asked, “That room is not touched since then let's clean up when you are free.”

Mia was shocked to hear that the room had been not touched  for so long. Because when she went there last time, the box looked dust free, and new. Like it has been cleaned.

“what , are you serious?”

“Yeah, I havent been able to clean it or hire someone to do it for ten years. Its too painful for me,” tom confirmed.

“ Are you sure, Dad?” Mia questioned again. 

“Yes, why are you asking if no one has cleaned the room?’he asked her furrowing his eyebrows.

“Nothing,” she muttered.

Just then there was a knock at the door, interrupting their conversation. Mia hurried to answer it.

“Hello!” she greeted him with a smile.

“Can I come in?” John asked politely. 

“Yes sure, thank you for agreeing to help me,” Mia replied warmly. 

 Mia dragged John upstairs to her room, so that she can be able to avoid her father's questions.