The Return of the Absent Father

"What are you doing in my house?!" she was out breath when she spoke but it was still full of dignity. She glared at her father for bringing an unfamiliar man to their home.

"Sweetie, this is Mr. Ramirez. He is here to see the house before purchasing it." Her father spoke as if coaxing her into agreeing.

"No, this is our home and we are not selling it." She flashed a fake smile towards Mr. Ramirez while barely trying to hide her ill intent.

Yvon's father, Emmanuel Vermosa could not help but put his fingers at his temple trying to massage away the incoming headache.

"Yvon, that is not up to you to decide." He spoke sternly to assert his stance but this only infuriates Yvon.

In the midst of all this, Mr. Ramirez stood quietly. As an awkward smile hangs at the edge of his lips.

"Maybe, I should go back another time." Mr. Ramirez chimed in.

"No no no Mr. Ramirez lets talk in the garden. It has a lovely view." He guides Mr. Ramirez to the door leading to the garden, only to speak a few words and came back to Yvon standing in the living room.

"Now listen sweetie, I have no time for your tantrum. Mr. Ramirez is waiting for me in the garden and he's the only one willing to buy this house. We can't let it's market value go down any further." He almost begged, he understood why Yvon can't let go but he doesn't move on what will become of their life if they continue living in the past?

"Papa, you can't. She's coming back, I know it. We need this house when she comes back." She looked up trying not to let her tears trickle down her face, no – not in front of her father.

He's softened at sight of his daughter barely holding her grief. He knew, but they have to let it go. She would have wanted them to move on.

He pulls in his daughter for a hug, Yvon could not hold back her tears as it rolled down her cheeks.

"Shhh.. Happy birthday sweetie. Every things gonna be alright." He placed his hand on her back comforting her.

"You remember." Yvon silently stopped crying for a moment only to continue again. She thought her father had abandoned her, the same way he abandoned the memories of her mother.

He broke the hug, and wiped the tear streaks on his daughter's face. "Come with us, let's have dinner with Layla. We'll celebrate your birthday."

As if like a switch, Yvon's tender feelings vanished at the mention of her name. She composes herself and put a distance between her and her father.

"Mr. Ramirez is waiting for you in the garden." She utters nonchalantly as if it was not related to her beloved home.

Mr. Vermosa stiffend at his daughter's rejection. Who could blame her? Her mother disappearance did not damper her love for her mother and only increased her longing.

A step mother is not what she needed to replace her mother.

She quickly ran upstairs, while her father only stared at her. His eyes also full of remorse and sadness.

Yvon quickly pulled out a duffle bag under her bed and started to pack her things haphazardly. She did not fold her clothes and directly throw it in her bag.

She paced around her room, thinking what she can fit in her bag. She then remembers the book she left in the attic.

She slowly exited her room, afraid that her father was still there. She sighed a breath of relief when she looked from the top of the staircase that her father was not in the living room.

He seems to have gone to the garden to entertain Mr. Ramirez's inquiry of the house.

Arriving at the attic she quickly spotted the book she had left, she picked it up and opened it.

It seems to be handwritten by her mother. She did further read the book, she closed it and made her way back to her room. She can't stand the suffocating feeling anymore.

After packing quickly, she carried her bag and phone on the other hand as she sneaking out to the gate. Only to remember that not many taxi comes to this town anymore.

She was forced to walk out of the town with a heavy bag on her shoulder. The strap of the duffel bag seems to dug onto the skin on her shoulder, she would switch from one shoulder to the other to elevate some of the pain.

She almost missed her step when she tried to switch, luckily she regained some balance on her steps.

On her way out she saw an elderly approaching her. It was Lola Louise, one of the few residents who did not leave this town.

"Rierie, where are you going?" Lola Louise had a soft and reassuring smile on her face as she spoke mildly. When she smiled her eyes would almost disappear as her cheeks would move upward creating the wrinkles around her eyes to be more defined.

She gives everyone a nickname that is far from one's own name and no one back then seems to mind as Lolo Louise seems to be so endearing.

Yvon quickly came to her side to assist the elderly to walk. "Yes, Lola Louise. The school years about to start in less than a month. I have to move to a dorm." She lied through her teeth, well it is partially true.

She knew that Lola would be sad if knows that another family would leave.

"Aiyah, my back." Lola Louise groaned. Yvon turned concerned and looked for a place to sit. There was a bench under a tree in a nearby playground.

"Lola let sit there." Yvon pointed to the bench as she eagerly assisted Lola Louise to sit.

"That is so much better. You said you're moving to a dorm? This town is too small to hold your dreams ey?" Lola teased but she could see a flash of sadness in her eyes.

Lola was left by her children as they have their own families in bigger city. She was alone in her house, her family rarely visits so she would often go house to house in the neighbourhood to feel less lonely but now people in this town is slowly moving away.

"No Lola, my heart still here." Yvon forced herself to smile for Lola Louise. She knew she might never be able to come back.

"Everything seems to pass by so fast, it's hard to keep up when you're longing for what is already gone. Rierie, I have wasted time hoping to come back to a time when everything was fine and stop that moment from ever slipping away. I – We can't pause time, I knew that when my kids started to have their own lives. So go, live Rierie." She smiled to Yvon.

"Thank you Lola." She came close to hug Lola Louise.

It was heart-warming, it was the closest feeling to being okay that she have felt in years.

"Do you want some candy?" Lola spoke, Yvon could only laugh as she wiped away the tears she didn't knew she have shed while hugging.

"Yes please, it's like you're carrying a whole store full of candy Lola." Her eyes shined brightly at Lola's simple gesture.

She ripped the plastic wrap of the candy and pop it her mouth, as the sweet sugary taste spreads in her mouth.

Then she remembered she should have texted Abby, if she could as a favor to pick her up and if the room is still available.

She opened her phone, and texted Abby. 'Abby, could I ask a favor? Could you pick me up?' she pressed send and not long after she received a text.

'Sure, where are we going?'

Yvon quickly typed a reply, 'What you said earlier, could I still move to your dorm?'

'YES, OMG wait for me. I'll pick you up.' Abby then quickly responded.

Yvon turned to Lola, and said "Lola I should be going now. Let me walk you home."

Lola Louise's house is not that far, she could still probably walk Lola home then wait by the town's entrance for Abby to pick her up.

"Is someone going to pick you up? There is no taxi coming here lately." Lola spoke out of concern.

"Yes Lola, she will be here soon."

"Then I shall not bother you anymore."

Both Lola and Yvon walked to Lola Louise's house. It's a nice, you could see little trinkets displayed all around the house but still well maintained considering only Lola lives here and she still have the strength to clean.

Once Yvon have settled Lola so that she is well rested, she quickly bid her farewell.

Yvon realized, that the world continued living on whilst she held on. No matter how much she resisted she must also let go but for now she would like to hold on the memories a bit longer.

Even if it hurts so much more than letting go, the last grip she has on reality.