Callie had left work early because she wasn't feeling well, she knew she was going to get sick from the second she got up and experienced difficulty breathing through her left nostril. However, being hard headed, she decided she'd try and get through the day of work. which clearly wasn't a success considering the chief sent her home three hours into her rounds. She pulled out her phone to check the time as she made her way over to daycare, it was then she realized the date. It had been two years since Mark had died. Her walking slowed down as she made her way into the daycare. Right away she spotted Sofia and a small smile appeared on her face. She went over, grabbed her things and signed her out.
The drive was quiet. She occasionally looked back at Sofia through the rear view mirror. Sofia was getting older, she had grasped the concept of her father no longer being with them but even then she would still ask about Mark's whereabouts. Callie had decided she'd take Sofia to Mark's grave. The thought of it terrified her. She didn't know what Sofia's reaction would be. She feared it'd be one she wouldn't know how to deal with. She pulled up to a red light and looked back at Sofia again. The toddler was busy playing with her stuffed animals. She looked back when she was suddenly honked at. "Come on, the light just turned green.." She furrowed her brows as she stepped on the gas.
She was soon pulling up to the cemetery's parking lot. Once, she was parked and the engine was off, she took a deep breath and looked up at the rear view mirror again, only to be met by Sofia's big brown eyes. "We're here." She stepped off and went to get her daughter out of the car seat.
As they walked up to the dark granite tombstone that had Mark's name engraved on it. Sofia walked over to it and Callie watched. The toddler tilted her head slightly as she examined the writing. She brought her hand to it and ran her fingers over his name, "daddy?" She looked up at her mother. Callie nodded and waited for further reactions from the toddler. She was surprised when she saw Sofia smile and sit in front of the tombstone. Callie walked over and watched as the girl seemed to be holding up a conversation with her father. She softly giggled as Callie got closer. She turned to Callie to find tears running down her cheeks. Sofia's face softened as she got up and walked over to her mother. "What's wrong?" Callie shook her head and offered the toddler a small smile as she wiped her cheeks. Noticing the change in her mom's expression, Sofia returned to her previous position.
After what seemed like hours, the little girl walked over to Callie. "All done mami. Are you gonna talk to daddy?" Callie simply nodded and made her way over to where Sofia had been not so long ago. She closed her eyes and quietly said a prayer, she knew the toddler didn't have much patience so she tried to not take too long, "I miss you, Mark.." She finally said as she opened her eyes. She looked over at the toddler, "Ready to go?" She smiled as she made her way over. She took Sofia by the hand and made her way back to the car.
She ride home felt shorter than the ride to the cemetery. It had been fairly quiet. Once they got home and out the car, Sofia rushed to the door where she waited for Callie. When Callie finally got to the door she smiled up at her before going inside, "daddy says he misses you too."