{"id":79458,"date":"2024-09-05T10:52:36","date_gmt":"2024-09-05T03:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/?p=79458"},"modified":"2024-09-05T10:52:36","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T03:52:36","slug":"dad-i-miss-you-posters-by-my-daughter-bring-a-shocking-blast-from-the-past-to-our-doorstep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/dad-i-miss-you-posters-by-my-daughter-bring-a-shocking-blast-from-the-past-to-our-doorstep\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Dad, I Miss You\u2019 Posters by My Daughter Bring a Shocking Blast from the Past to Our Doorstep"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n

THE GRIEF\n\n
\n
Life in our small town had always been simple, the kind of place where everyone knew each other\u2019s names, and the biggest excitement was the annual county fair.\n\n
\n
But after my mother passed away a month ago, everything felt different. It was like the town itself had lost some of its warmth.\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n
My mother had been the glue holding our little family together, especially since Emma, my daughter, had never known her father.\n\n
\n
Mom had stepped in, filling that void in ways I couldn\u2019t, and now, with her gone, the emptiness was overwhelming.\n\n
\n
I struggled more than I expected, but I knew she felt the shift.\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n
She was always a sensitive child, picking up on the smallest changes, and lately, her questions about her father had become more frequent.\n\n
\n
\n
\u201cMommy, where\u2019s my dad? Why doesn\u2019t he live with us?\u201d\n\n\n
\n
Her big, innocent eyes would search mine for answers I didn\u2019t want to give.\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
I had always dodged those questions with vague stories, saying things like, \u201cHe had important reasons,\u201d or \u201cMaybe he had to go far away.\u201d\n\n
\n
I never thought she\u2019d push for more, especially not now when the wounds of losing my mother were still so fresh.\n\n
\n
But Emma was persistent. Every day, she would write little notes on scraps of paper.\n\n
\n
\u201cDAD, I MISS YOU\u201d\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n
She left them where I could see them\u2014on the kitchen table, by my bed, and even tucked into my purse. Each note was like a tiny dagger, piercing through the walls I\u2019d built around my heart.\n\n
\n
\u201cEmma, sweetie, how about we go get some ice cream?\u201d\n\n
\n
I tried to steer her away from the sadness creeping into her.\n\n
\n
Her face would light up for a moment, but then she\u2019d say something like:\n\n
\n
\n
\u201cMaybe Dad likes ice cream too. We should get some for him, Mommy.\u201d\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
\n
It was breaking my heart, and I didn\u2019t know how to handle it.\n\n
\n
The truth was a Pandora\u2019s box, full of pain and regret that I\u2019d tried so hard to keep locked away. I was terrified of what might happen if I opened it.\n\n
\n
So, instead, I tried to distract her with anything I could think of. A new toy here, a trip to the carousel there\u2014anything to keep her mind off the father she had never known.\n\n
\n
But deep down, I knew I was just postponing the inevitable.\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n
A VISITOR\n\n
\n
It was a regular Tuesday afternoon, and I was folding laundry in the living room when a knock echoed through the house. I paused, confused.\n\n
\n
Nobody knocked in our small town\u2014they either called ahead or just walked in. I wiped my hands on a towel and headed for the door.\n\n
\n
When I opened it, my heart nearly stopped.\n\n
\n
\u201cDavid?\u201d I whispered, hardly believing my eyes.\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
He stood there, looking as surprised as I felt.\n\n
\n
\u201cLily,\u201d he said, his voice soft. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time.\u201d\n\n
\n
I couldn\u2019t move, couldn\u2019t think. My instinct was to shut the door, to keep him out of my life for good. But before I could act, a small voice interrupted.\n\n
\n
\u201cMommy, who is it?\u201d Emma asked, appearing at my side.\n\n
\n
David bent down to Emma\u2019s level.\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n
\u201cHi there! I\u2019m David. What\u2019s your name?\u201d\n\n
\n
\n
\u201cI\u2019m Emma. Do you want to come inside?\u201d\n\n\n
\n
I opened my mouth to protest, but the words stuck in my throat. Emma was already pulling him by the hand, leading him into the house.\n\n
\n
\u201cEmma, wait\u2026\u201d I started, but she was too excited to listen.\n\n
\n
David looked at me, unsure. \u201cIs it okay if I come in?\u201d\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n
I hesitated, then nodded slowly. \u201cYeah, sure.\u201d\n\n
\n
As he walked in, Emma started chattering away.\n\n
\n
\n
\u201cDo you like lemonade? Mommy makes the best lemonade. We can sit in the kitchen, and you can have some. Right, Mommy?\u201d\n\n\n
\n
\u201cUh, yeah, lemonade,\u201d I said, trying to regain my composure. \u201cI\u2019ll, um, I\u2019ll get some.\u201d\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
David followed Emma into the kitchen, glancing around the house as if trying to piece together the life he\u2019d been absent from.\n\n
\n
Why now? What did he want?\n\n
\n
Emma pulled out a chair for David and then sat across from him.\n\n
\n
\n
\u201cSo, are you Mommy\u2019s friend?\u201d\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n
David hesitated, looking at me before answering. \u201cI was\u2026 a long time ago.\u201d\n\n
\n
\n
\u201cThen you\u2019re welcome here! Mommy says friends are always welcome.\u201d\n\n\n
\n
I busied myself with the lemonade, trying to avoid the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. I felt David\u2019s eyes on me, but I couldn\u2019t bring myself to speak.\n\n
\n
As I placed the lemonade on the table, David finally broke the silence.\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
\n
A LETTER\n\n
\n
\u201cLily, I didn\u2019t come here to stir up the past, but there are things we need to talk about.\u201d\n\n
\n
I sat down across from him, my fingers tightening around the glass.\n\n
\n
\n
\u201cTalk about what, David? What could you possibly have to say after all this time?\u201d\n\n\n
\n
He hesitated, glancing at the door where Emma had just exited. Then he finally asked, \u201cIs she\u2026 is she my daughter?\u201d\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
I felt a surge of anger rise within me.\n\n
\n
\u201cThat\u2019s none of your business, David,\u201d I snapped, my voice cold and sharp.\n\n
\n
\u201cEspecially after everything you did. You can\u2019t just show up out of nowhere and start asking questions.\u201d\n\n
\n
David flinched but didn\u2019t back down.\n\n
\n
\n
\u201cLily, I didn\u2019t come here to\u2026\u201d\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n
\u201cTo what, David?\u201d I cut him off, my anger boiling over.\n\n
\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t come here to what? To make things worse? You left me! You don\u2019t get to walk back into our lives whenever you feel like it.\u201d\n\n
\n
\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t just leave, Lily. You were the one who pushed me away. You didn\u2019t want me anymore. You made that clear.\u201d\n\n\n
\n
I stared at him, disbelief and fury poured into a bitter cocktail in my chest.\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n
\u201cYou really think that\u2019s how it happened? You left me when I needed you most. You can\u2019t just show up after all these years and expect\u2026 what, forgiveness? Closure?\u201d\n\n
\n
David shook his head, his expression pained. \u201cLily, I\u2026\u201d\n\n
\n
\u201cNo!\u201d I shouted, cutting him off again.\n\n
\n
\n
\u201cThis conversation is over. I want you out of here. Now.\u201d\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n
\u201cLily, please, just listen\u2026\u201d\n\n
\n
\u201cGet out!\u201d I yelled, the words echoing through the small kitchen like a clap of thunder.\n\n
\n
In a minute, Emma came running in, her eyes wide with fear.\n\n
\n
\n
\u201cMommy? What\u2019s going on?\u201d\n\n\n
\n
But by then, the door clicked shut behind David.\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nothing, sweetie,\u201d I said, forcing a smile. \u201cHe had to leave.\u201d\n\n
\n
\u201cMommy, was that my Dad?\u201d\n\n
\n
I realized I couldn\u2019t hide the truth any longer. \u201cYes, it was.\u201d\n\n
\n
\u201cMommy, I have a letter for my Dad. It\u2019s from Grandma. I always carry it with me in case I meet him.\u201d\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n
My breath caught as I saw the old, worn envelope in her hand, with my mother\u2019s familiar handwriting scrawled across the front.\n\n
\n
My hands trembled as I took it from her. \u201cThis is\u2026 this is for him?\u201d\n\n
\n
She nodded eagerly.\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\u201cThere were two letters! But only one\u2019s to him.\u201d\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n
\u201cEmma, do you have the other letter? Was it\u2026 was it addressed to me?\u201d\n\n
\n
\n
\u201cYes! I think so. I put it in the mailbox for you.\u201d\n\n\n
\n
I suddenly realized that I hadn\u2019t checked the mail since the day my mother passed away. I flung the door open and hurried to the mailbox, a knot forming in my stomach.\n\n
\n
\n
\n
$\"For$ \n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n