A little girl looked out her window, watching her father. He was about to drive to the store to pick up some groceries. She crept down the stairs of the small old house and gave him a large hug. He smiled into her innocent, little eyes. He stroked her hair, kissed her forehead, then he went out of the door, and drove away. She passed the time he was gone by playing in her playroom. She would always make her toys go on amazing adventures. Eventually she became bored of the things, and she walked out eventually to see her mother sniffling on the couch, her eyes red from crying. “What’s wrong, mommy?” the child asked. “Daddy won’t be coming home tonight. He won’t come home for a while, dear.” Her father had gotten into a bad accident… one that he unfortunately- did not survive… The little girl started to cry. She was only sad that he wouldn’t be there to play with her that night. She hadn't realized that, even though her mother did not directly say it, her father wouldn’t be coming home at all. Ever. This little girl grew up without a father to guide her. To teach her. To play with her at night. To comfort her. To be an amazing role model. To just sit and think with her. To just be… Her father. She grew old eventually, as all will do. She forgot many things and became crippled and frail. She needed attention from her caretakers constantly. She could barely do anything by herself. She would soon die. One night she was in her bed and she fell asleep, thinking of her childhood. She awoke to see her late father waking her up, stroking her forehead as though she were still that young girl. He helped her out of her bed. She was no longer old and fragile. She was young and spry! She started to cry in her unbelief. Her father smiled at her. She hugged him tight. “I’m back now,” he said. There was a light behind her old bedroom door. A bright light. “Do you see that?” He asked her. She nodded, she was at a loss for words. “Let’s go out there.” He said. That night she never truly awoke, but she didn’t need to. Her time of waiting for her father was over… she could finally be with him again. She held his hand and they walked out together, the father and his daughter.
