One Year

Four Years

      "No daddy don't leave," I sit on the ground holding his legs, struggling to keep him here. "Can I come with you, please?"

      "No honey. I won't be gone that long, just a week," He goes to give mommy a kiss and she turns her head. "Bye girls, till next time."

      I run to the window and watch him leave in his blacked out purse. My eyes start to leak salty liquid, and my mom rushes over to me and calms me down.

      "Shh baby it's ok, it's ok. He'll be back in a week, calm down sweety?"

      One week later, the sky sings and all the colors become more vibrant. I rush down the stairs, "Mommy where daddy?" I screen as I hop up and down.

      "Shh, he's in the kitchen." She motions her hand to the left. I slowly go into the kitchen acting like Carman from spy kids.

      "Roar," I yell hoping onto daddy's back "I missed you," I yell hugging him. He looks different, his curly, long beard is now tamed and pressed up against his face. His large ears that I hold onto when I ride on his shoulders, and much tinier too.

      "Hi princess, I missed you so much," he says with a smile "I have something for you." he pulls out from behind his back, a fluffy purple stuffed dog.

      "What do you say honey?" mommy says

      "Thank you, daddy, her name is now fluffy." He smiles and kisses me on my head. We sit together on our wooden chairs and eat our peanut butter and marshmallow sandwiches mommy made. Mine with no yucky crust.

      The yellow light falls to a dark blue sky and we all sit tight together on the living room couch. We watch my favorite movie, Spy kids until I fall asleep.

      "Darek, do you know where Daren is? I haven't heard from him since he left." I wake to the sound of mommy's voice, whispering in the dark. I act like I am sleeping, while I listen to her voice.

      "No Cynthia, I wouldn't be too worried if I was you. He did this before."

      "I know, but this time we have a kid together." Who is mommy talking to, I don't know anyone named Darek. The room falls silent, I hear them walking closer to me and I quickly tighten my eyes and snuggle up more with the blankets.

      Mommy comes over to me and rubs my back. She picks me up and takes me into my room, I watch her close my hot pink door leaving a crack open. The dim of light in the hallway goes out as she and daddy go into their room.