My eyes drooped, as I lay
in my hard bed, a thin blanket clutched at my chin to keep me warm. Above me on
the bunk bed, my sister had already fallen asleep, and I could hear her steady
breathing in the blackened room. My eyelids closed briefly, before I forced them
open again, rubbing them furiously to keep awake. I was determined to see you at
least once this week. Finally, I heard a sound, a door opened and softly closed
again.
Quietly, so as not to wake my sister, I slipped out of bed, and pulled on my
slippers. In my simple short and t-shirt, I padded over to my door, slipping it
open just a little. Peering into the dining room, I could see you get yourself a
cup of water. You wore glasses that rested on the crook of your nose. I thought
how strange it was that your face was full of holes. You looked tired, in your
wrinkled dress shirt, drinking the warm water with relish. It was one o'clock in
the morning, so no wonder.
"Amanda?" You asked, seeing my face peeking through the doorway. "What are you
still doing up?"
I didn't know what to answer. I'd always wondered if you actually did come home
at night, but now I knew what my mother told me was true. I shake my head
helplessly at you, I didn't know what to say. You were like a stranger to me, no
more than an uncle or a friend.
"Go back to bed." You commanded in Chinese, before you walked pass my door,
heading down the hall to your room.
"Daddy?" I whispered down the dark hallway after you.
You walk softly back to my door. "What is it?"
"I can't sleep. It's too dark."
You don't say anything, instead, walking away. I turned back to my wooden bed,
defeated. But as I try to get comfortable again, I hear you slip into my room.
Setting down some papers on my desk, you turned on the table lamp and began to
work.
With the small light from the lamp you worked under, I fell asleep. In the
morning, when I woke again, you were gone, as always, and I wondered if I had
only dreamed my meeting with my father.
~~winds of fortune
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