Don't Refuse Me, Daddy

Chapter 1 Leafy

My sister and I fell in love with the same man.

The first time I met Tyrone, it was a quiet evening in early autumn. He arrived suddenly—a stranger at our doorstep, young and tall, framed by the golden light breaking through clouds that had lingered for days. The sunlight softened his sharp, rugged features, casting an almost dreamlike glow.

Lily and I watched with wide-eyed curiosity. Who was this man? How did he know our parents so well yet remain a complete stranger to us?

That night, they filled our living room with memories—how the three of them had met as kids, the adventures they shared growing up, and all they had been through together. After my parents got married, Tyrone left the city for reasons none of them ever discussed.

When we asked, Mom simply smiled, running her hand over my hair. "Some things are better left unknown, especially dangerous things," she said gently, her voice soothing yet firm.

Mom was always like that—gentle, wrapping our world in a soft, protective bubble. For Lily and me, she created a life that felt like a fairytale, a place where we could drift through our days as carefree as sprites in an enchanted forest.

Dad laughed, shaking his head. "If Tyrone hadn't left, he'd have been like our first kid," he said with a wink. Tyrone only grinned, pretending to be offended. "I'm not some kid anymore," he muttered, but there was a softness in his voice.

The evening stretched late with laughter, stories, and more than a few toasts. Tyrone promised to visit often, and when he finally stood to leave, it felt as though a piece of him lingered behind.

Later, after everyone had gone to bed, I lay awake, feeling the strange emptiness of a bedtime story left untold. I fiddled with the switch of my bedside lamp, clutching the plush puppy Tyrone had given me. Soon enough, Lily slipped into my room, holding a familiar, thick fairytale book.

"I knew you wouldn't sleep without a bedtime story, Leafy," she whispered, tapping my forehead with a smile.

Leafy. That's what everyone called me. Mom had told me that when I was little, I loved nothing more than the slide Dad built in our backyard. I'd climb to the top and slide down, over and over, my laughter ringing out with every fall. That autumn, the yard had been blanketed in golden leaves, and Lily had told Mom I was like a little leaf myself, drifting down to earth with a smile.

It was an unusual nickname, maybe, but I loved it.

After Lily read the story, I still couldn't sleep. She stretched out beside me, patting my back in a soothing rhythm that felt like a lullaby.

"What do you think of Tyrone?" she asked softly.

I thought for a moment. "He's tall, he's a guy, and he gave me this cute puppy," I murmured, hugging the plush closer.

Lily's eyes softened. "I think I might be falling for him, Zoey."

Her words jolted me awake.

My best friend Jessica had once said the same thing about a boy in a neighboring class, and soon enough, they were inseparable, leaving me behind. I barely saw her anymore. A mix of frustration and sadness filled me at the thought.

Would Tyrone take Lily away, too? A surge of resentment crept in for this stranger who had just stepped into our lives.

I scrunched up my nose. "You can't fall for him," I said firmly.

Lily only laughed, tugging gently at my nose. Yet I kept pestering her, making her promise never to leave me, and only then did I finally let myself drift into sleep.

As her sixteenth birthday approached, Lily's affection for Tyrone grew even more obvious. Poor girl—tangled up in love when everyone knew ice cream was the true remedy to life's troubles. I thought this to myself as I savored a cone, watching her walk toward Tyrone.

At eleven, I thought I had it all figured out. I knew Tyrone wouldn't steal my sister from me, but I still didn't like how close they were.

The night before her birthday, Lily told me that she wanted to invite Tyrone to her birthday party. Though she called it a party, it was really just us—the four of us in our cozy, tight-knit world. Mom had been preparing Lily's favorite cake for days, and I had saved up to buy her a dress she had been eyeing. I got the money from my parents by doing housework.

From behind the door, I watched as Tyrone sat on the backyard swing, his back to us, his head tilted up to catch the sunlight. The golden rays caught in his hair, giving him the look of a giant, gentle dog. After finishing my cone, I stood there, silently praying for her.

Taking a deep breath, Lily walked over and sat down on the swing beside him.

Tyrone said something I couldn't hear, and I saw Lily's face fall, her shoulders drooping in defeat.

When she returned, her eyes were red, barely holding back tears.

"He asked if he could bring his new girlfriend," she whispered, her voice trembling.

I frowned, my heart sinking. "Oh, no."

A new wave of irritation at Tyrone swept over me. How could he look at anyone else when he had someone as wonderful as Lily right here?

On her birthday, Tyrone called, saying something had come up and that he'd be late.

I was secretly glad—why wait for someone who clearly didn't appreciate my sister? We didn't need him.

Mom brought out the cake, perfectly decorated with strawberries just as Lily liked. I helped light the candles, and Dad placed a crown-shaped birthday hat on her head, smiling with pride as he said, "My baby girl. You're as beautiful as a princess."

Then, a knock at the door shattered our moment of happiness.

Dad, assuming it was Tyrone, opened the door with a welcoming smile. But what happened next came like a nightmare.

A stranger stood at the doorway. After the sound of a gunshot, Dad collapsed silently at the threshold.

Mom screamed, grabbing a knife meant for cutting the cake and charging at the intruder in a wild attempt to protect us.

I froze, terror pinning me in place as I watched Dad's blood pool at the door, spilling across the floor like uncorked champagne, staining everything in its path.

But Lily reacted quickly, pulling me close. While Mom distracted the stranger, she dragged me upstairs, stuffing me into the dirty laundry basket and covering me with clothes.

"Stay here. Don't make a sound," she whispered, pressing my head down.

"Survive, Leafy."

Those were her last words to me.

I held my breath, biting back any sound, tears wetting my hands. After a while, I heard the intruder talking on the phone.

"A couple, one daughter... yeah, they're all taken care of. What? There's another one?"

His voice grew closer, chilling me to the core. It felt like my world was fading.

What would Heaven look like? Would angels come for me? Would I see Mom, Dad, and Lily there?

Another gunshot echoed through the house, and I closed my eyes tight.

Then, someone lifted the clothes covering me. Had the intruder found me?

The next second, a familiar voice spoke above me.

"There you are... It's okay now, Leafy."

I opened my eyes and saw a man looking down at me with concern.

How weird. This angel looked just like Tyrone.

But then, he gathered me into his arms, holding me close.

"I'm so sorry I was late."

And I finally allowed myself to cry out loud.