The only place
564 Words
Chapter 8
I ran.
I didn't know where I was going at first.
I just knew I couldn't go back.
My feet carried me down the road, my bag bouncing against my side as I wiped at my face with the back of my hand.
I could hear Mum's voice in my head.
Keep your voice down.
You didn't become president.
What did you do?!
I ran faster.
I didn't want to hear her anymore.
I didn't want to hear his voice either.
I didn't want to see that house.
I didn't want to see any of them.
I just wanted somewhere else.
Then one thought came to me.
My dad.
I slowed down.
For a second, I almost stopped completely.
Dad.
The man Mum had spent years teaching me to hate.
The man she'd told me didn't care about me.
The man she'd made me believe had walked away because I wasn't worth staying for.
I hadn't seen him properly in years.
And now, of all places...
That was the only place I could think of going.
I started running again.
Luna: “Please…”
I didn't even know what I was asking for.
Maybe somewhere to sit.
Maybe somewhere to breathe.
Maybe just one person who wouldn't look at me like I was a problem.
I reached the road that led toward his house.
My steps slowed.
Suddenly, I was scared.
What if Mum had been right?
What if he really didn't want me?
What if he opened the door and looked at me like a stranger?
I stood there, breathing hard.
I could turn around.
I could go back home.
But the thought made my stomach twist.
So I kept walking.
Every step felt like I was walking toward someone I'd been taught to hate...
And toward someone I'd secretly spent years wondering about.
Did he ever miss me?
Did he ever think about me?
Did he ever love me?
I didn't know.
I'd never been allowed to know.
When I finally reached his gate, I stopped.
My hands were shaking.
I stared at the house.
This was my dad's home.
The home I had been told didn't matter.
The man I had been told didn't care.
And yet...
I was standing outside his door because I had nowhere else to go.
I raised my hand.
Knocked.
Once.
Nothing.
I knocked again.
My heart pounded.
Then I heard footsteps.
They were getting closer.
I suddenly wanted to run.
The door opened.
And there he was.
My father.
He stared at me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
His eyes moved over my tear-stained face.
My messy hair.
My school bag.
Then back to my eyes.
His expression changed.
Dad: “Luna?”
My lips trembled.
I'd imagined this moment so many times.
In every version, I knew what to say.
But standing there...
I had nothing.
Dad: “What happened?”
I looked down.
And for the first time in years, I didn't know whether I was standing in front of the man who abandoned me...
Or the man who had been waiting for me.
I swallowed.
Luna: “Can I come in?”
Dad didn't hesitate.
He stepped aside.
Dad: “Come in, baby.”
I froze.
Baby.
One word.
That's all it took.
My face crumpled.
And before I could stop myself...
I walked into my father's house.
- Writer
