9. Miguel Benites
996 Words
The alarm went off at 6 a.m., but this time it wasn’t the shrill sound that woke me. It was Giulia, jumping on my bed with cold feet and a smile bright enough to rival the morning sun.
“Daddy, wake up! It’s Saturday!” she shouted, shaking my arm with the kind of energy only a six-year-old can have.
“I’m up, princess,” I muttered, rubbing my eyes and trying to push her weight off me. “What’s so special about Saturday?”
“You promised we’d go to the park today!” she said, as if I had committed a crime by forgetting.
Ah, right. The park. I had promised last week, during one of our movie nights, that I’d dedicate the entire Saturday to her. I work so much that sometimes I forget that promises are sacred to a child—even in the middle of chaos.
“Alright, alright. We’re going to the park,” I agreed, sitting up in bed. “But first, breakfast. Have you eaten yet?”
“No, I was waiting for you!” she replied, jumping off the bed and running toward the kitchen.
Following Giulia into the kitchen was like trying to keep up with a whirlwind. She was already at the table with a bowl of cereal in front of her by the time I got there. Maria, our housekeeper, smiled when she saw me.
“Good morning, Mr. Miguel. Someone seems excited today,” she said, pouring me a cup of coffee.
“Good morning, Maria. And yes, someone is definitely keeping me on my toes,” I replied, sitting beside Giulia.
As I sipped my coffee, I watched Giulia devour her cereal with contagious enthusiasm. She talked nonstop, telling me about a dream she had with a purple dragon and a princess who could fly. I listened, trying to follow the peculiar logic of a six-year-old, and found myself laughing at her wild stories.
“So, did the dragon eat the princess?” I teased.
“Of course not, Daddy! They became friends and went to live on a cloud,” she replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
After breakfast, Giulia dragged me to her room, insisting that I help her choose her outfit.
When we got to the park, she ran straight to the swings as if she were seeing them for the first time. I followed, trying to keep up, but she was already seated and kicking her feet before I could reach her.
“Push me, Daddy!” she asked, and I did, gently pushing her as she laughed and asked to go higher.
“Careful, princess! I don’t want you flying away!” I joked, slowing the swing down.
We bought ice cream and sat on a bench, watching the other kids play. Giulia rested her head on my shoulder, and I wrapped an arm around her, feeling her warmth against me.
“Daddy, you’re the best dad in the world,” she said between licks of her ice cream.
“And you’re the best daughter in the world,” I replied, kissing the top of her head.
We sat in silence for a moment, enjoying the calm of the park. Moments like this were rare, and I knew I had to cherish every single one. But I also knew there was something important I needed to tell her.
“Giulia, I have something to tell you,” I began, choosing my words carefully.
“What is it, Daddy?” she asked, lifting her head to look at me.
“Do you remember when we talked about your new friend who would be staying with us?”
Giulia frowned thoughtfully, but nodded.
“She’s arriving today. That’s why we made the sign for her.”
“Like the ones we see in movies? What’s her name?”
“Something like that. Her name is Isabella, and she’s from Brazil. She’s going to live with us for a while and take care of you.”
“Is she nice?” Giulia asked, her eyes shining with curiosity.
“I think so. Carmen chose her, and she seems very kind. She likes children and will help you learn new things.”
Giulia fell silent for a moment, staring at the melting ice cream in her hand. But now she seemed more interested than the first time we talked about Isabella.
Now she had questions.
“Will she stay with me when you’re at work?”
“Yes, princess. But I’ll still be here for you whenever I can. Isabella will be like a friend who helps you and plays with you.”
“Cool!” she exclaimed, jumping off the bench. “When does she get here?”
“This afternoon. Do you want to come pick her up with me?”
“I do!” she said, reaching out her hand with a mischievous smile.
I took her little hand, laughing.
“It’s a deal.”
“Daddy, do you think Isabella will like me?” she asked suddenly, her expression turning serious in a way that caught me off guard.
“Of course she will, princess. How could anyone not like you?” I said, pulling her into a hug.
“I don’t know… sometimes people don’t like me,” she murmured softly.
My chest tightened. Giulia was so little, and yet she already carried doubts and insecurities I hadn’t even noticed.
“Giulia, you are the most amazing person I know. Isabella is going to love you, just like everyone who gets to know you. And if she doesn’t, then she’s not the right person to be here.”
She looked at me, her eyes shining with a mix of hope and fear.
“Promise, Daddy?”
“I promise,” I said, squeezing her small hand again. “And remember, I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”
- Writer
