After my mother died, my father
regretted it too late.
Chapter 1
Mom came back from a doctor’s
appointment, and after that, she was always
crying over this one piece of paper.
I snuck it to Dad, hoping he could help.
He ripped it up, screaming at her, “How long
are you going to keep up this sick act? Now
you’re using our kid against me?”
He slammed the door, and I climbed into bed
with Mom, hugging her tight and crying,
“Mom, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have shown it to
Dad.”
Mom just wiped my tears and gave me a sad
く
Later, Mom really did die.
And Dad, who never seemed to love her, held
her body and cried like a crazy man.
01
Mom hasn’t talked to me in forever.
No matter what I say, she just stares into
space.
I mostly hang out on the couch, playing with
my Legos.
When I’m hungry, I grab snacks and fruit from
the fridge.
I really want to call Dad.
But Mom’s phone is dead.
I plugged it in to charge, but when it turned
on, I needed a password.
I don’t know Mom’s password.
So I just have to wait for Dad to call us.
But deep down, I know he won’t.
He doesn’t want us anymore.
He’s been living with Carol and her daughter,
Tiffany.
The last time I saw him, he was at my school
for field day, holding Tiffany.
L
I was so excited to see him.
It had been ages since I’d seen my dad.
I wanted to run to him and yell, “Dad! Dad!”
But Mom grabbed me and said, “Sweetie,
that’s not your dad. You’re mistaken.”
No way.
That was my dad.
I know it.
I still wanted to yell, but Mom picked me up
and took me to a corner.
I hid in her arms.
L
Watching Dad hold Tiffany.
Wiping her forehead.
Giving her water.
Tearing open a chocolate bar and feeding it
to her.
When she fell while running and scraped her
knee, he ran over, checking her wound,
asking, “Does it hurt? Here, let me kiss it.
Make it all better.”
Tiffany started crying, reaching out to Dad,
“Ouchie! Carry me! Carry me!”
Dad picked her up.
Gently wiped the tears from her face,
whispering sweet nothings.
I heard Dad say he was taking her for
burgers.
I understood.
I was wrong.
That wasn’t my dad.
