My father came back

After a while I noticed someone’s gaze on my back. From the corner of my eye, I could see the same old hooded guy I noticed at my previous stop. Was it my imagination? Normally I would have ignored him, but something about him did not strike me as a nervous fan. He felt . . . familiar.

At my final stop for the day, I made sure to take a seat outside. The shop had a sleek interior design with a reminiscent sweet aroma. The owner was a nice old lady. Thankfully she did not know me. It made me feel like a normal girl for once.

“Here is your coffee miss.” 

“Thank you very much.”

“Also, make sure to get back before sunset. There has been reports of some dangerous incidents as of late.”

“Dangerous? How so?”

She shook her head. “It is better if you do not know.” 

After giving a small nod, she left me to myself. I raised the cup and inhaled its aroma. Sweet, with a hint of honey. Just how I liked it. 

My terrible stalker was just staring at me from the distance, pretending to observe a nearby boutique. It was obvious this was going to take him some time, so I took up my script and notebook. First, I completed the first page, then the second, and before I knew it, at the fifteenth page, I noticed someone’s shadow looming over me. It was him. 

 “Good morning.” He proceeded to pull out the seat, but before he sat, he suddenly remembered something called manners. “Would you mind if I sit here?” 

“If you are one of those reporters again, I don’t want a part in anything.” I gestured with my hand for him to go away, but he didn’t. He sat down anyway, allowing me to get a proper look at him. Old, mid-forties maybe? Unshaved bearded with a tired complexion. Again, with that nervous expression. But those eyes. The voice. I did not like it. 

 “Laila. Do you remember me?”

Laila. When was the last time I heard that name? “Sorry, I don’t recall. And I go by Samantah now.” I took another sip of my coffee and started eyeing the cream on the top. How does it float on the surface I wonder? 

“It’s me, you dad.”

I took a huge gulp of my drink. Dad.  This was my dad.

“I know that . . . It’s been a while since we last were together. Just know that there was a reason I couldn’t be with you.”

“Well, you left me alone at the tender age of six. I since long understood that you could not be there.” I wanted to ask the obvious question, but I was too scared to do so. I knew the answer, and I did not like it.

“Yes. And I am here to apologize for that. When I saw your face on some newspaper, I knew it was you. I travelled all the way here from x city.”

“Why?”

“Because I want us to reconnect. Rekindle our relationship and start again as father and daughter. I had my circumstances, and I am sorry I left you. But us parent have it difficult sometimes, and you the kids, have to understand. Surely my little girl must still have your morals strong.”

I didn’t answer. I just nodded. Old memories I had desperately been trying to forget came back. I had to listen to him. What dad says is always right … Right? “Sorry. Dad. I need some time to think about this.”

“Think about what?” He asked with that tone.

“Well, this is all just so sudden you know.”

He nodded. “I understand. You’re still a girl. A sensitive thing.”

“Yeah,” I managed to gulp out. I tore a piece of paper from my notebook and wrote down my number, handing it too him. “This is my number. Just send a message from your phone so I know it is you.” 

“Yes.”

I got up from my chair, but he touched my arm before I cut get the bag. Before I knew it, my old reflected kicked inn. But he did not notice, to him, that was just me being shy. “Hold up now. You see, I travelled really far and don’t have a place to stay. Surely you could let your father stay at your place. With all that wealth, you must have some fancy big house ey?”

“Sorry, I am currently renovating it. And it’s really not that big, just an apartment,” I lied. He looked disappointed by the answer. “But I could get you a room at a nearby hotel.” I opened my wallet and handed him a 1000$ bill. This got his attention, and he quickly grasped it from my hand. “This should cover the cost.” I stared at him for a few second, stupidly waiting for a thank you, but it never came.  

I got my purse and coffee and walked away. Was I walking straight? Did I look weird? God, I am not shaking right? I didn’t understand why I these thoughts were getting in my head. I was THE queen Samantha, the most confident girl in the city. People look at me in envy, adoring my flawless stone-cold attitude. I took another sip from my coffee. It tasted weird.

*

Arriving at my apartment I darted inside and jumped into my bed. I closed my eyes, to no avail trying to relax my thoughts. Why did he have to show up? Why? Now, like an idiot I had to worry about this new development. I should be going over my script. Why did life always have to be so terrible?

I got my phone and called Michael. Luckily, he was on a business trip. I don’t think I could maintain my poker face if he saw me. 

“Hello Samantha. What’s up?” 

“Well . . .”

“Is something wrong? Tell me, if here for you.”

“You see, it’s my long-estranged dad. I met him on the streets today. Apparently, he wants to rekindle our relationship.”

“That awesome. I knew he would be back. Now you can catch up, and who knows, maybe you will finally laugh more from time to time.”

“Hah, that nice, but . . . I just don’t know. I’m confused about everything.”

“Don’t worry, he won’t do anything to you. He is your father after all, parents always love their children unconditionally. I won’t be back for another week, but you should take this time to catch up. Be the strong woman I fell in love with and get on with this, okay?”

“Yes, I will see what I can do.”

“I got to go now, good luck. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

I put down the phone of my bed and closed my eyes again. Maybe this was just needless worry. Maybe he had changed? Maybe this was a blessing? Maybe? I don’t know. I could barely remember, how he specifically was back then. All I knew was that he was a bad father. But was he really, or was it only the warped imagination of a child left alone? 

My phone vibrated. I looked at a message from a new number. It was a picture of a hotel room. The caption read: “I found a hotel room”. I remembered seeing that bed before, and that wallpaper. It was from the top suite in that nearby hotel.

I completely closed off my phone and put it on my bedside table. I pulled up my blanket and closed my eyes. Maybe he wasn’t that bad….