"Excuse me miss," A feeble voice spoke out beside me. "You've been sitting here for a long time, unless you're going to order something I'm going to have to ask you to leave..."
I turned my head and looked at the petite waitress, before nodding and letting out a huge sigh. I had been waiting here for almost two hours. I honestly thought that he would come, I should have known that he'd abandon me again. I rubbed the back of my neck and flung my bag over my shoulder. I could feel tears beginning to swell up in my eyes, I had to get out of here.
I quickly got up out of my seat and dashed out of the cafe. The rain was still pouring down and showing no signs of mercy, I was drenched from head to toe. Slowly, I began to make my way home, dragging my heavy feet as my head hung. I had never felt heartbreak and disappointment like this before.
As I carried on walking down the pavement, I could hear a car slowly creeping up behind me. I didn't acknowledge it and continued my journey home. I couldn't hold in my emotions any longer, floods of tears streamed down my face.
The person driving the car behind me began hooting their horn. I picked up my pace a little, I didn't know who it was or what they wanted. The car sped up a bit more so that is was directly to the side of me. I clenched my fists tightly, I wanted to be left alone. They continued to hoot their horn so I stopped dead in my tracks.
"What?!" I yelled furiously.
The car stopped, and the front passenger window rolled down. A middle aged man leaned over the empty passenger seat and spoke.
"Emily, what are you doing out here in the rain? It's freezing." He said.
I walked up the window and stuck my head in. My eyes widened a little and I took a step back.
"Get in, quickly!" He expressed.
I hesitated for a bit before slowly making my way into the car.
"Why are you all alone in the rain?" He asked. I didn't reply, and looked out of the window. "Look at me, please..."
"Maybe it's because I was sat in a cafe for almost two hours waiting for you and got fed up and decided to go home."
"I know, it's just-"
"I should have known you'd do this." I gritted my teeth.
"Emily..."
"I should have stuck to my gut instinct and said no to meeting you."
"Look, I'm sorry. I was held up at work that's why I was late. I did try to call you."
I took out my phone and stared at it, the battery had died. I looked up at him, he was already staring at me.
"So do you still blame me?" He asked.
I paused for a bit. "No, I'm sorry..."
"Don't be, I'm sorry. I know how much this meant to you and I'll make up for it."
---
Everything was just like it was when I left it. It still felt and smelt like my old home.
"I hope you like stir-fry." He smiled.
"My favorite" I giggled lightly.
He still remembered my favorite meal...
We sat in silence as we ate our food. I couldn't help but gaze upon him. He hadn't changed much, his face had aged a little and he now had more gray strands of hair than the brown I remembered. It somewhat suited him, and aging had really defined his face. He was quite attractive. But besides that he was still the same man.
“I wish I could have taken you out somewhere more nice.” He sighed.
“It's okay, stir-fry on a rainy night indoors sure beats red lobster in a fancy restaurant” I smiled.
“That's the Emily I remember, always appreciative of the tiniest things in life.”
As my smile faded away a little, I placed my bowl down on table.
“Why did you leave?” I said softly.
He also put his bowl on the table, and rubbed his forehead.
"Emily..." He took hold of my hand and looked me in the eye.
I pulled away from his touch.
"I asked you a question, why did you leave?"
"It's complicated." He stressed.
"Well I'm not going anywhere until I get answers."
He buried his head in his hands and said nothing. I stood up and paced around the kitchen.
"I didn't want to leave."
"So why did you?!" I shouted.
"Your mother made me!" He yelled back.
He stood up and went into the living room. I quickly followed behind him. He was walking around the living room, trying to hide the tears in his eyes. I ran up to him and grabbed him by the arm.
"What do you mean she made you?" I said.
"We were going through a tough time and she told me to leave and never come back."
"I couldn't care less if you two had your problems, but if you really loved me you would have still came to see me."
"I wanted to but she wouldn't let me! Listen, Emily I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart-"
"Sorry doesn't cut it! Sorry won't make up for the birthday's and the Christmas's that you missed, all the times I was left heartbroken by a guy..." I burst into tears.
He took me by my arms and embraced me. I could feel his tears dripping onto the back of my neck. My mind was telling me to resent him, but my heart was saying forgive him. It felt good to be in his arms again. I had longed for his touch for so long... He cupped my face in his hands and looked at me. His brown eyes burned into me, I could see how sorry he was.
"Please forgive me. I know I should have tried harder to be there for you, but I'm here now. I can't change the past but I can shape the future, with you in it this time," He ran his fingers through my hair. "Give me another chance?"
"Okay." I smiled and nodded.
He wiped away my tears with his thumbs.
"I love you so much, Emily."
"I love you too... Dad."
---
My dad and I were sprawled out on the floor playing a game of monopoly. The atmosphere was delightful.
"Are you comfortable?" My dad asked.
"Yeah I'm fine."
"You know when you were walking along the pavement earlier, I hardly recognized you at first." He said.
"Oh really?" I sat up and looked at him.
"Yeah, you've changed so much. You're all grown up now, and more beautiful than ever."
I blushed a little and pushed back my hair. He looked me up and down in a strange manner and smiled.
"You're not too bad yourself, for an old man." I smirked.
"Haha, I bet you're not too old for one thing though."
"Oh? What's that?" I asked.
From out of the blue he launched himself at me and began tickling my stomach. I went into major giggle mode and began squirming about on the floor.
"S-S-Stop it!" I said between laughs.
I grabbed onto his wrists and pushed him off of me. My grip on him was far too tight and caused us to roll over. I laid there on top of him and burst into laughter again, my dad joined in before kissing me on the forehead. I smiled and then yawned.
"Tired?"
"Yeah, just a little."
"Alright then. You can have my room for the night and I'll sleep on the sofa."
"Thanks dad," I got up and headed towards his bedroom. "Do you have something that I can sleep in?" I asked.
"I should have an old t-shirt somewhere in my wardrobe."
"Alright, good night dad." I smiled.
"Good night, Emily."
---
I was stretched on out my dad's king sized bed. I couldn't help but feel a sense of loneliness. It made me wonder how he must have felt every night that he spent alone in this bed. I felt some sort of empathy towards him. I got out of bed and stretched. I had to see how he was doing.
I quietly made my way into the living room. My dad was stretched out on the sofa. He must have fallen asleep whilst watching the TV. I smiled to myself and turned it off. I slowly walked over to him and sat down besides him. I could hear his heavy breathing, he quietly snored from time to time. I eventually laid myself down next to him and wrapped his arm around my waist. It had been a long time since we had slept together like this.
---
The harsh rays of sunlight hitting on my face woke me up. I slowly sat up and rubbed my eyes before looking around.
"Dad?" I called.
There was no answer.
My heart beat faster and faster every time that he didn't respond to my calls. I swallowed hard and rubbed my knuckles. Had he left me again? I got up and ran into his bedroom. He wasn't in there. I ran into the bathroom, still nowhere to be found. I grabbed hold of my hair and let out a huge sigh. The kitchen, I thought.
I dashed into the kitchen to find my dad cheerfully cooking breakfast whilst dancing ridiculously to George Michael. I smiled and shook my head. He turned around from the cooker and jumped.
"Don't creep up on me like that, Emily." He panted.
"I'm sorry, Dad. You had me worried a minute ago."
"Oh?"
"When I woke up and you weren't by my side I panicked a little... I thought you'd... left me."
"Come here..." He stretched out his arms and walked towards me. "I meant what I said yesterday Emily, I'm not going to leave you again."
I smiled before sitting down at the kitchen table.
"So what are you cooking?"
"A full English. Sausages, eggs, mushrooms, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, toast and bacon, extra crispy with the fat trimmed off."
I raised my eyebrow and clapped joyfully.
"Impressive, you remembered how I like it."
My dad smiled at me and brought our breakfast to the table. He picked up his mug of coffee and I picked up my glass of orange juice.
"To a new start." He raised his mug.
"To a new start." I smiled.
---
Warm water trickled down my chest.
