Chapter 70: Mia's Confusion

Mia sat in her room, surrounded by her friends, but her heart felt heavy, burdened by a growing sense of confusion and sadness. Her chair faced a computer screen filled with intricate codes, but her mind was far from focused on the digital world before her. Instead, her thoughts swirled with emotions she couldn't quite comprehend.

"I hate Daddy," Mia mumbled quietly, her voice trembling with a mix of frustration and sadness.

"Mia! Mia!" one of her friends called out, breaking Mia's trance-like state. She looked around and saw her concerned friends huddled around her, their faces etched with worry. They had noticed the change in her demeanor over the past few days – her rare smiles, decreased appetite, and lack of focus.

"What's going on, Mia?" they asked in unison. "You've seemed so down lately. You're not yourself."

Mia hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to express her feelings. "It's Daddy," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her friends leaned in, their concern deepening. "What happened with your Daddy?" one of them asked gently.

"It's like my Daddy doesn't like me anymore," Mia confessed, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "He doesn't come to see me or talk to me like he used to."

"Don't cry," one of her friends consoled her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Have you talked to your stepmom about your Dad?" another friend asked.

Mia nodded. "Yes, I asked Mommy, but she said Daddy's very, very busy."

"That means your Daddy is just busy," one of her friends chimed in. "That doesn't mean he doesn't like you."

"But it feels like he's forgotten about me," Mia admitted, her voice quivering. "I miss him so much."

Her friends exchanged worried glances. "I have an idea," the friend who had been quiet until now spoke up. "When you go home, tell your Mommy that you want to speak to your Daddy. Then, ask him why you haven't seen or talked to him lately."

Mia considered her friend's suggestion, and a glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes. Maybe there was a simple explanation for her Daddy's absence. Maybe, just maybe, she could bridge the gap that had grown between them and bring back the warmth of their father-daughter bond.

With her friends' support, Mia decided she would find out why her Daddy seemed so distant. She hoped that her simple question would lead to the answers she desperately needed and a rekindling of the special connection she shared with her beloved father.