Reunion

Based on Clannad (spoiler obviously). A father a daughter and a dead mother.

If you were to ask anyone who was he
That tall man emptying the whiskey alone
They'd tell you something very brief:
An ordinary blue-collar worker;
Very bright for a man with high-school diploma;
A single father still wearing the wedding ring;
Doesn't live with his six-year-old kid

It was middle of July, crickets chirping
Sun burning flesh, nobody in her house
She was just a little girl in her summer dress
Waiting for a man called "Father" to visit her
At least once
At least to see him
She hasn't seen him in a while.

He was surprised when she was the one
To open the front door
Because he didn't see his daughter
He could only see her lovely mother
Her face was the picture of a woman
He once in past called his lover
It reminded him why he never saw her

The girl was quiet
Playing all alone
But she'd often go to the bathroom
On her own
She's already a big girl
Whom he's never watched grow
But he still misses her mom

He decided to take her on a trip
Where he used to go with his parents
She was running all day
Across the dandelion field
With the teddy bear he bought her
He learned she was as curious as her mother
He wishes he had been a better father

Travelling back home in a fast train
She was unusually quiet
Maybe because of the teddy bear she has lost
He didn't know what's the best thing to say
So he started talking about her mom
He was glad she wanted to know more
The man couldn't hold back tears anymore

Suddenly the girl runs past him
And leaves him and his ring alone
He didn't want to lose her
And soon he found her
Locked up in some bathroom
Not making any noise
You could hear his heart beating

After a thousand knocks
She barely opens the big door
And she's crying but what for?
In that moment
His heart broke the second time
Father pulls daughter close
Asks her what is wrong

You could barely make out her words
Something along the lines of
"Grandma said there are
Only two places where I'm allowed to cry;
In the bathroom
And
In daddy's arms"

His wife probably smiled up in the skies

Author's Note

I cried a waterfall of tears during this scene. I adore the line about daddy's arms.

Reviews

[R.E. Ray]

This is what I love most about poetry. Sometimes a "short story" is better told in verses like this. It's free, unstructured, and conveys so much emotion it's nearly overwhelming. Such a sad but yet beautiful story about life and love. Thank you for sharing.

[Yahallo]

Thank you so much! I totally agree with you, sometimes less is more!