Cookies 'n' Cream 10, Pickle 14: A Year Ago
Title: A Year Ago
Main Story: In The Heart
Flavors, Toppings, Extras: Cookies 'n' cream 10 (dream), pickle 14 (cut the cord), rainbow sprinkles (Hugh), whipped cream, fresh pineapple (I will crawl through my past/Over stones, blood, and glass/In the ruins/Reaching under the fence/As I try to make sense/In the ruins --Ruins, Melissa Etheridge)
Word Count: 215
Rating: PG.
Summary: A year ago, everything made sense.
A year ago, he got up to find that Olivia had left him a present at the foot of his bed. A tie with fishing lures on it (a private joke), and a handmade card, which was far more important.
A year ago, he went into the office and got smiles and jokes. Patients wished him a happy Father's Day. The other fathers congratulated him on the day and commiserated on the challenges of raising children.
A year ago, he left work early and picked up his daughter, and they went to dinner and to the park, and he pushed her on the swings until long after dark. She was almost thirteen, and getting too big for it. He'd counted his blessings, thanked God she was still willing to be his daughter.
A year ago, he kissed her forehead and sent her to bed, and tried not to think about how much longer he'd have her. He had no idea just how short a time it would be.
Now, no one leaves him presents. Now no one knows what to say to him. Now he doesn't even know what to say to himself.
He doesn't even know if he is still a father.
He'd give anything to go back to a year ago.
Main Story: In The Heart
Flavors, Toppings, Extras: Cookies 'n' cream 10 (dream), pickle 14 (cut the cord), rainbow sprinkles (Hugh), whipped cream, fresh pineapple (I will crawl through my past/Over stones, blood, and glass/In the ruins/Reaching under the fence/As I try to make sense/In the ruins --Ruins, Melissa Etheridge)
Word Count: 215
Rating: PG.
Summary: A year ago, everything made sense.
A year ago, he got up to find that Olivia had left him a present at the foot of his bed. A tie with fishing lures on it (a private joke), and a handmade card, which was far more important.
A year ago, he went into the office and got smiles and jokes. Patients wished him a happy Father's Day. The other fathers congratulated him on the day and commiserated on the challenges of raising children.
A year ago, he left work early and picked up his daughter, and they went to dinner and to the park, and he pushed her on the swings until long after dark. She was almost thirteen, and getting too big for it. He'd counted his blessings, thanked God she was still willing to be his daughter.
A year ago, he kissed her forehead and sent her to bed, and tried not to think about how much longer he'd have her. He had no idea just how short a time it would be.
Now, no one leaves him presents. Now no one knows what to say to him. Now he doesn't even know what to say to himself.
He doesn't even know if he is still a father.
He'd give anything to go back to a year ago.