1
2
I stared at the street address for the longest time. Flickering the paper between my fingers.3
The numbers. The name. He lived right here and town and had done since the day he had left. All this time he had been right under my nose and I hadn't thought a thing about it. 4
I'd always just assumed he had moved away. Traveled as far away from us as he possibly could. Started a new life. Had a new wife and kids of their own. But he had stayed the same. He had kept his old job. He had never married let alone have kids to any other woman other than my mother. Even his hair cut remained the same. Just as I remembered it.5
Though I had only caught a glimpse of his photo. For the bell had rung and students where lining up outside eager to get inside the warmth of the classroom. Ready to go home. The scariest thing about seeing his photo was not that he still looked the same as I had remembered him from the vague and distant memories that I still clung to like a rope of safety and life. But the fact that despite his aging and his gender. He looked exactly like me.6
He had the same fierce wide, protective eyes. The same small slightly upturned nose. The same wispy eyebrows and worse the same crooked, heart-broken smile. The kind that looked painted on like a masquerade mask or a mime on the streets of London.7
“We're home,” my mother and her deranged partner called from the hallway. “Hayden are you home?8
I placed the address carefully on my bedside table. Next to the photograph taken of my parents together. Holding me as an infant.9
My mother knew I had emailed my father. She had to know. Why else would the aromatic delight of Asian cuisine be wafting and lingering at the tip of my nose- causing my hungry stomach to grumble violently?10
How could she not know? 11
I wouldn't confront her. Not unless she asked me directly and I wouldn't lie if she did. I would only question her about the lies she had told me and how she could keep this sacred information away from me for so long?12
How could she live with herself letting me believe I wasn't wanted in his eyes? How could she had led me to assume that my father had moved on? That he didn't love me when he had told me in his email that I was the only girl...woman he could ever love more than anything in this world. 13
“Hayden I got you that special fried rice you love,” my mother called from outside my door. Tapping softly. 14
“Hayden?”15
I stood up. My knees wobbled.16
I put on a smile like I always did and opened the door. The first thing I saw in my eyes were more lies approaching. I knew that face to well.17
“Come on then. Come and eat your dinner before it gets to cold,” she said leading me into the kitchen.18
My mothers deranged partner stared at me. Her lazy eye twitching while she dished up every-ones meals. Mine receiving the biggest proportion of the three. Clearly it was out of guilt.19
“So Hayden,” she asked shaking. 20
“Did anything interesting happen today?
21
Adding your comment:
