The Letter
Because of Father's Day coming up, this is dedicated to my step father Liam!
Mom always liked to tell me about the first time you held me. It was in that bright hospital room almost thirteen years ago when they brought me back, clean and bundled up in a pink blanket. She likes to sum it up with a cheesy grin. Hospital visit: $4000. Baby formula for one month alone: $146. Your father's mega-watt smile: priceless.
I wish I could've seen it- your smile. Maybe, if I would've opened my eyes sooner I would be able to remember what you look like instead of having to relying on aging photographs. Maybe, if I had curled my little fingers around yours you would have stayed just a moment longer. A moment's all it takes. It's all it took for that truck to crash into your car. That's all it took for you to die.
Another year has gone by and I just wanted to tell you that mom and I are fine, and that I know you sent Liam to us from up above. He truly does love mom and I- and we him. But, he'll never take your place. Those are a pair of big shoes to fill. Size 13 to be exact, or so mom tells me. Love you and miss you with all my heart daddy,
Riley
The soft light of dawn washed over the cold, unresponsive marble of the tombstone as Riley gently placed the envelope she had brought with her on the ledge. Out of the corner of her eye Riley could see Liam, her step-father, slowly walk towards her. She looked down at her hands and then back up at the tombstone, now that they didn't have anything to hold on to, she wasn't sure what to do with them anymore. Still staring at her father's tombstone, she felt a rush of warmth and a strong hand clasping hers. Riley looked up to see silent tears streaming down Liam's face as he smiled. "You ready, pumpkin?" he asked her in a gentle voice.
Riley just nodded as the two turned around and started walking back through the cemetery. As the brilliant sun started to rise and the cool morning dew flicked up her legs, Riley thought about how good a father Liam had been to her. He'd been in her life for over eight years now and Riley hoped he'd be in it forever.
The first memory Riley had of Liam was him dressed up in a tutu, sitting on a small plastic chair drinking imaginary tea out of a cup with his pinky finger up. Riley smiled, that took a real man.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Liam asked as he looked down and saw the smile on her face.
"It's nothing really," Riley said smiling, "I just remembered that time you dressed up in a tutu."
"Oh, wow," he laughed, "I was hoping you would've forgotten that by now."
"There isn't a chance of that, that's a powerful piece of blackmail, if I ever need it." Liam chuckled again and looked down at her face again as she smiled back.
"You know," he began as he squeezed her hand tighter, "I would never want to replace your father."
"I know," Riley whispered, almost too soft for him to hear.
"But I want you to know that I'll always be here for you, and I'll always love you."
Riley gave him a watery smile, "I've always known that."
As the two reached the entrance of the cemetery, Riley looked back for one last glimpse of her father's grave and then the two walked out, hand in hand.
I wish I could've seen it- your smile. Maybe, if I would've opened my eyes sooner I would be able to remember what you look like instead of having to relying on aging photographs. Maybe, if I had curled my little fingers around yours you would have stayed just a moment longer. A moment's all it takes. It's all it took for that truck to crash into your car. That's all it took for you to die.
Another year has gone by and I just wanted to tell you that mom and I are fine, and that I know you sent Liam to us from up above. He truly does love mom and I- and we him. But, he'll never take your place. Those are a pair of big shoes to fill. Size 13 to be exact, or so mom tells me. Love you and miss you with all my heart daddy,
Riley
The soft light of dawn washed over the cold, unresponsive marble of the tombstone as Riley gently placed the envelope she had brought with her on the ledge. Out of the corner of her eye Riley could see Liam, her step-father, slowly walk towards her. She looked down at her hands and then back up at the tombstone, now that they didn't have anything to hold on to, she wasn't sure what to do with them anymore. Still staring at her father's tombstone, she felt a rush of warmth and a strong hand clasping hers. Riley looked up to see silent tears streaming down Liam's face as he smiled. "You ready, pumpkin?" he asked her in a gentle voice.
Riley just nodded as the two turned around and started walking back through the cemetery. As the brilliant sun started to rise and the cool morning dew flicked up her legs, Riley thought about how good a father Liam had been to her. He'd been in her life for over eight years now and Riley hoped he'd be in it forever.
The first memory Riley had of Liam was him dressed up in a tutu, sitting on a small plastic chair drinking imaginary tea out of a cup with his pinky finger up. Riley smiled, that took a real man.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Liam asked as he looked down and saw the smile on her face.
"It's nothing really," Riley said smiling, "I just remembered that time you dressed up in a tutu."
"Oh, wow," he laughed, "I was hoping you would've forgotten that by now."
"There isn't a chance of that, that's a powerful piece of blackmail, if I ever need it." Liam chuckled again and looked down at her face again as she smiled back.
"You know," he began as he squeezed her hand tighter, "I would never want to replace your father."
"I know," Riley whispered, almost too soft for him to hear.
"But I want you to know that I'll always be here for you, and I'll always love you."
Riley gave him a watery smile, "I've always known that."
As the two reached the entrance of the cemetery, Riley looked back for one last glimpse of her father's grave and then the two walked out, hand in hand.
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