Busted Gulch vol. 13

Secret Santa - The Truth- Petra (Ruechari)

The Truth - Petra

Today was father's meeting

Soon she'd run along

But first a trip to the cafe. 

Along the way. 

Petra picked a name from the box

before adding her own.

She knew who this was

She headed on home.

She couldn't believe

He asked for "the truth"

Well, he's going to get it!

Petra hoped it may soothe

Her mind and her heart

To get it all out

She had to know this thing with Talulah

What was their relationship all about.

She steadied her hand

Knocked on the door.

He was actually alone

Which was rare anymore.

He was getting back

To his busy self

Time to take this question

Off the shelf.

"Petra the apple of my eye

What brings you here?"

Petra looked at the paper

She felt some fear

Did she really want to know?

She really couldn't say

But she'd get no better opportunity

Than today.

She showed the paper

With his Christmas wish

I have come Dad to talk to you

About this.

Denver wondered if this day would come

He readied himself for what came next

Petra looked him in the eye and said

"What the heck!"

"You have any idea the hurt and pain

that Talulah Grey put me through?

And yet you accepted her

Had her live here with you."

"I don't want to hold on to anger

or reassessment any more

But you are the only one

who can help me close that door."

"I love you, Dad.

With you and our family

My life is complete.

But you've hurt me more

Than anyone and you

Had many with which to compete."

"When you found out

Her connection to me

You kept her onboard.

That decision just...

Had me floored."

"How can you love a creature

That could cause so much pain?

A woman that made your daughter

live a life of shame?"

"I was forced to sell my body

I nearly lost my soul

You seemed so determined to keep her

It felt like your only goal."

"You have our mother.

What a slap in the face.

To keep a mistress

In the very same place."

"I'm glad she dead

I wished I did the deed.

No tears I'd shed.

I'd finally be freed."

"I want to push past

I want to more than words can say

To let it all go

To walk away."

"But I can't because it gnaws at me

She took from his desk a pen

Flipped the paper, wrote

and then...

"You wanted "the truth"

You got your gift

Now here's what I want

For Christmas... this..."

He took the paper

from her hand

One word, to understand

Could he, should he

Give her this gift?

Would she be better

Or worse from it?

He knew between them

This would become a cancer

So he must comply with

That one word,