Chapter 65: Chapter 65

"Everything's a story. You are a story. I am a story."

-Frances Hodgson Burnett-

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Dennis Bellavance had gone to Paris for the second time in a month, three days after she had woken up they had allowed her out from the hospital. Her body stabilized rather rapidly for someone who had gone unconscious for three weeks, and the rest of her system were functioning as normal, but they had given her a few prescriptions which had never been part of his plan, but as soon as he received the call from Raphael he had to come. He had prayed days and night for her to wake up, and it must have been a miracle for her to wake up right on Christmas day.

Clara had lived inside Raphael's house again, he was a bit worried after he had heard what was going on between them, but judging from Clara's voice from over the phone she seemed to be doing just fine. He went through the whole process over and over again, but this time Raphael had spared some of his time to pick Dennis up from the airport, they headed directly to Raphael's house. It was Dennis first time stepping inside the building, and he had known for the longest time that Desroches family were well known for their fortune, but even their son's penthouse was remarkable. It was larger than an average house.

He led him to her room, where she was laying down in her bed comfortable, she still had a transfusion machine set up, but overall she was looking so much better. Clara's face lit up at the sight of her father. She missed him so much, it had been months since she last saw him and she was more than happy. Dennis wanted to give his daughter a hug but with all the restrictive equipment he did not think that was possible, instead, he gently caressed her hair, a drop of tear fell from his eyes. he held her hand gently and a sigh of relief came out from his lips.

The housemaid knocked the door with a tray of food in her hand, Raphael who had been leaning on the door took it from her hand. He put it down on the table.

"Can you hand me over the bowl?" Dennis asked, Clara shook her head.

"I could eat by myself." she said so yet her hand said otherwise. Dennis insited, and Raphael felt that it was only the right thing if he left them both alone.

Dennis directed the spoon in front of her lips, it brought back memories from when she was just a little girl, six years old Clara Was laying down in her bed from a sever cold, Dennis was seated beside her with a bowl of warm soup on his hand since it was the only thing she was allowed to eat by the doctor, and could swallow down without pain.

The only difference was, this time he did not need to do much of persuasion. After a few spoonful, Clara opened up her mouth to speak. She hated the taste of hospital's meal but what could she do? Since it was just her and him, she suddenly remembered something she had wanted to tell him since his arrival.

"Papa, I must tell you something." Dennis put down the bowl on the desk and paid attention to her. Clara's expression turned a bit sad all of a sudden.

"When I was unconscious, I went to a place. It was a beautiful place, the atmosphere it had, God, it was peaceful and calming. I had never been to a better place before. It was heaven." Her brows furrowed recalling the place in her dream She could still remember vividly what it looked like, the garden surrounded by a lot of fountains, butterflies flying across the flower bushes, and the apple tree were in full blossom. Dennis was silent as he listened to her description.

"Then, I met a woman. She was really beautiful, her hair was similar to mine, it was fuller and thicker though, her skin was warm and light, but her eyes, her eyes was exactly just like mine, it was the same shape, the same shade, and she was reaching out her hand to me, and I took her hand. All of a sudden, I felt a sense of familiarity, I cannot explain it, but I felt like I have known her for a long time." Dennis had a guess in his mind of where it was going.

"She caressed my hair and smiled at me and she told me she was proud of me. She was proud of you too for raising me to be the woman I am today." A bright smile appeared on her face as she retold the story. A sense of reminiscence overcame Dennis, a thousand memories he had forgotten of the past flashed back in his head. He was certain of who the figure was, although Clara might not, because ever since Jeanette passed away he had hidden most of her pictures, Clara might have seen them once or twice but it was certainly not as vivid in her memory.

"Before she left, she took my hand and whispered these words to me, "You must return, because there are still people out there who love and need you" with a smile, she walked away from me and disappeared into the light. Then, I woke up, I did not know why but I feel like I need to tell you about this."

A drop of tear fell from his eyes, he had never been seen crying in front of his daughter before, but the way Clara expressed her story, the woman who visited her in her unconscious state, it must have been Jeanette, and he knew it, he was fully aware of it. His wife made sure that their only daughter experienced life to the fullest by pushing her back on earth. It turned out, after all these years, she was still watching over them.

"Thank you for returning our daughter to me, my love."