SAVING ME (Daerin - Complete)

chapter 19 "The truth"

As the door to the restaurant opened, I looked up and saw Danielle walking in. My heart leaped with joy at the sight of her, and I immediately rushed towards her. I wrapped my arms around her in a tight embrace, feeling her warmth and the scent of her hair.

Tears streamed down my face as I pulled back and looked at her. "You shouldn't have left without telling me," I said, my voice choked with emotion. "I was so worried about you. I spent hours searching for you, visiting the places we went to yesterday. Please don't ever do that again."

I couldn't bear the thought of losing Danielle, even for a moment. The fear and anxiety I had experienced while searching for her had been overwhelming. All I wanted was for her to be safe and by my side.

As I made a gesture, Danielle's expression showed that she was taken aback, but she didn't respond in any way. At that moment, James tapped my shoulder and whispered that we needed to have a conversation. He then led the way up the stairs to his office, and I followed along with Danielle, trying to read her expression and figure out what was going through her mind.

"Haerin, I need to clarify something," he said, his voice hesitant. As he gestured towards the girl beside me, I noticed a hint of sadness in his eyes. "She is not Danielle," he continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "She is my daughter, and her name is Daniella."

I looked at the girl beside me, and as I studied her features, I realized that she was indeed almost identical to Danielle. However, despite their similarities, there were a few distinct differences that set them apart. Daniella lacked the tiny moles that looked like stars on Danielle's face, which gave her away as a twin.

As I glanced back at him, I could see the weight of his words on his shoulders, and I knew that this was not an easy conversation for him.

James pulled out his phone and showed me a photo of Danielle. In the picture, she was beaming with that infectious smile of hers, the one that I had seen many times before. It was a smile that could light up a room and bring joy to everyone around her. Seeing the photo brought back memories of how much she meant to me and how much I missed her. In the photo, Danielle was wearing a beautiful dress that I recognized immediately. It was the same dress she always wore when she was with me, the one that seemed to make her feel confident and beautiful. From the way she stood in the photo, I could tell she was happy and content. It was a moment frozen in time, capturing a memory that he would always treasure.

" Danielle is my sister," he said. "Twenty years ago, Danielle and her fiancée Vanessa were in an accident. Unfortunately, Vanessa didn't survive because she saved Danielle's life. Since then, Danielle has been struggling to come to terms with what happened. The sadness and guilt have become too much for her to bear, and she has decided to end her life and jump into Hangang River"

The words that reached my ears left me in a state of shock and disbelief. I stood there, frozen, unable to process the gravity of what I had just heard. My lips parted in an attempt to speak, but no words came out.

"Hanggang River is the place where I met Danielle and made a deal. I was about to jump into the river to end my life. But how is it even possible that shes gone? I saw her, I was with her for almost two days, I spoke to her, and I even shared a precious moment with her, I said back to James.

"When you arrived yesterday and mentioned that you had a reservation for two, I assumed that perhaps you were waiting for someone who hadn't arrived yet. But when you informed me that the reservation was made under Danielle Marsh's name, I was taken aback and found it hard to believe."

Veranda, where I assisted you, is her favorite spot in this area. This restaurant belongs to Danielle. When I was about to talk to you about how you knew about her, I saw her image; she was happy conversing with you. The face of her that I missed so much, her smile, her positive aura. James said while tears streamed down his face, a testament to the depth of his emotions.

Danielle's purpose to show into you was to save you, Haerin.

But why me?

The unfortunate events happened almost the same to both of you: the car crash Dannielle and Vanessa had experienced, and the accident of your family were on the same date, May 15, but in a different year.I researched and read an article about your familys accident

That was my birthday I said back to James.

"Then, he showed me a picture of a girl named Vanessa. She had a resemblance to my features, such as the eyes and facial structure. Maybe she was a bit taller than me.

"Another reason why Danielle chose to save you is that you look exactly like Vanessa." He said

Haerin, I understand that the situation you're in right now is overwhelming and it may feel like all hope is lost. However, I urge you not to disregard the effort and support that Danielle has provided you with. She has worked hard to help you, and it would be a shame to let her efforts go to waste. In times like these, it's important to find the strength within you to start afresh and create a new beginning. Remember, you are not alone and there are people who care about you. Stay strong, Haerin.