Chapter 2: My Daughter & Me

I woke up today ready to meet my daughter after years of being apart. Sure I got to see her every few years, or hear her over a call every once in a while, but this is the real deal!

I think I'll do something with my hair once it grows out like I used to have it all those years ago. I remember what my wife used to say about my hair nearly every day.

-[22 Years ago]-

"Good morning." I had awoken and my wife was sitting up on the bed. She turned over to me and said, "Hahaha! Your hair looks like it got blown up! I'm loving it though."

I patted down my hair to try and fix it for now. It made it worse. I now looked like a crackhead who had gone skydiving. "Yeah. Haha. It's been like this ever since I was little. These luscious locks are too good to handle I guess?"

Saying that made my wife, Elijah, laugh. I laughed as well alongside her. "How's your morning going?" I asked.

She shrugged and then said, "I just woke up so let me see. Ah! Nothing." She then giggled at that and I let off a smile. I then said, "You never cease to make jokes all the time, huh?"

"I guess so? I've been like this ever since we met 6 years ago. You know that." she replied. "I do know that. And it makes me love you even more." I then leaned over to kiss Elijah on the cheek and got off the edge of our bed. "Hehe." My wife made a sound after I kissed her.

I grabbed some clothing and went for a shower to start the day off. After the shower, my hair wasn't acting like a bomb went off on it. "Heh." I chuckled.

-[Present Day]-

God. I miss you, Elijah. You made every day better no matter the weather. May you find peace and safety in your new life. Before I do anything else today, I will pray at thy mural. Like I used to do every morning.

I got ready for the day and then I headed downstairs to the mural to pray. I got down on my knees and said, "God. May you let my beautiful wife find peace in Heaven or in a completely new life. I wish her only to be happy. Thank you, Lord. For all you have done for us. Please just keep watch over her blessed soul."

I sat there for a few more minutes and continued praying. After I was finished with the praying, I got up and went towards the kitchen to cook myself some breakfast.

"Now...what to make?" I said curiously. I stood there and thought it out for a moment before I said, "I know what I will make. Pancakes, eggs, and sausage links. Elijah's favourite breakfast meal. I'll make her some as well!"

I then began to cook.

-[2 hours later]-

"Ah. Shit. It's already 12?" I said. I finished my breakfast long ago and had been reading my old manga collection for the last hour. I then said aloud, "Fuck. I need to get myself looking more presentable for my daughter. I don't want to look like a loser in front of her."

I still have some time left so I can read a little more. And besides, I'm getting to a good part here! Just a little longer...

-[45 minutes later]-

Now it really is time to get ready. My manga can wait for me back here, but my daughter can't wait for me forever. I then said quietly, "Where did I leave my keys again? I swear I always lose those car keys whenever I need to use them!" I desperately searched for my keys but alas, nothing was found.

I then said, "I guess I will have to take my bicycle. It's a nice day so it seems nice! And the location of our meetup is not that far away!" I walked over to the door and said, "Well, I'll be off now!" I do this every time I leave in order for my wife to know.

I shut the door behind me and walked over to my garage that was currently opened. I grabbed my bicycle and shut the garage door. Before leaving I made sure I had everything I needed. "Phone...check. House keys...check. Well, it's time to disembark." I said whilst checking my current items on me.

I took one last glance at my house and starting to move out with my bicycle. If I go at a nice pace I can reach our meetup location in an hour or less if I go faster. Here we go!

-[70 minutes later]-

"I'm here." I said as I rode into the area of the meetup. I brought my bicycle to the nearby bicycle rack and locked it there with my padlock that I use for occasions like this one.

I found a nearby bench and sat down. It was about 8 feet away from my bicycle so if anyone tries to steal it, I can stop them easily! I sat there thinking about random things like how I used to go out with my friends during my years of high school. It was fucking chaotic when I would hang around them.

Cars started to leave and enter the nearby parking lot for the next few minutes. I watched as people left with their groceries and other things. I also watched a few people with, presumably their children, go shopping together.

After a few more minutes of waiting a grey car drove into the parking lot. It parked about 40 feet away from me and the driver side door opened. Out came a woman who had brown, fuzzy hair. She had begun to walk towards me and I knew who it was already.

"Hello, father." said the woman. It was Michelle! My one and only daughter! I stood up and walked towards her to give her a hug. I said, "Sorry about leaving you to my parents. But I am here now and that is all that matters." I opened my arms for the indication of a hug and she took it.

"I'm just glad you're back here with us!" said Michelle. After a few seconds of the initial hug we separated from each other. I looked up to the sky for it was nice and sunny outside. Beautiful, really.

Michelle took a few steps and said, "Well shall we go shopping together, father?" I nodded my head. We together walked towards the entrance of the nearby supermarket. We entered and I felt the immediate blast of the AC. It honestly felt nice on my skin.

"Ah. Nice and cool." I said. Michelle also seemed to like the cool air. I mean it does feel nice after coming from 93°F heat. "Welcome! I hope you find what you are looking for." said the cashier. They're a nice person it seems.

I do not know what we are here for. Probably nothing. But it is nice to just see her after all this time. It's been 7 years of course. That would now make her 19 years of age. The last time we were together was when my dad first got cancer. It was at stage 2 at the time he told me so I was permitted to go and see him.

Hopefully he can finally get rid of the cancer and live his life. It's now in stage 3 but I still think he can do it. I was never told what kind of cancer it was though. "Shall we begin?" said Michelle. That snapped me out of my train of thought. I replied with, "Yes. Yes we shall."

-[2 hours later]-

After we were finished looking around and grabbing what we wanted and needed, we payed for the items and left the store. I said, "Jesus. I never knew shopping could last so long! Now I know why mother had been gone for such long times when shopping."

Michelle laughed a little bit at me. I laughed a little bit too. "It was fun though, wasn't it?" said Michelle. I nodded my head. It was around 4:30pm now and I needed to get home to prepare some dinner and to read manga. I looked at Michelle and said, "Shall we do this again some time soon?" She followed up with, "Of course! It was really fun to meet up after 7 years."

We hugged and went our own separate ways. She went to her vehicle and I went to my bicycle. I unlocked it and put the bags in the basket in front. The basket was initially designed for groceries under 15 lbs or even an animal small enough. Such as a cat.

I rode my bicycle all the way home and I put it back into the garage and headed inside. I first showered and then cooked some pasta I got at the supermarket earlier. It was decently tasty. After that I grabbed my manga that I left off from earlier and read it. Before I knew it hours had flown by.

I looked at the clock I had on my wall. "Oh. It's already 10pm? I should get ready and head to sleep. I do love my sleep after all." I went upstairs into my room and plopped myself down onto my bed. I said, "Goodnight, Elijah."

I peacefully fell asleep after about 2 minutes. It was a good day.

-[29 days later]-

*ding*

[You have a new message from Gabriel]

"Oh? I haven't talked to Gabriel in forever. Let's respond first of all."

Gabriel: [Hey man. I haven't talked to you in forever but I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me. My time is inevitable. Thank you. Goodbye.]

I then said, "He must be drunk again. He did love his liquor." I then turned on the television to see the daily news and the reporter said, "We have news that there is a man who is on top of the cell reception tower and he looks to be ready to jump off. Police have gone down there to talk to him but they haven't been able to get him to come down after an hour of back and forth interactions."

I looked at the person standing atop the tower and saw the one person I hoped it wouldn't be. It was Gabriel. The reporter continued, "He looks like he is about to take his one way ticket to heaven."

I grabbed my phone and sent a message to Gabriel.

[DUDE WHAT ARE YOU DOING? DON'T DO THIS TO ME!]

I waited anxiously for about 20 seconds for an answer when he finally replied.

*ding*

Gabriel: [Too late, my friend. I wish you all the luck in the world. May God release me from the shackles chained to me so I may be free from this world.]

I then saw Gabriel jump. Tears started to well up into my eyes. I turned the television off so I didn't have to watch the inevitable demise of my best friend. I cried. For the first time in years, I cried.