To all the fans and readers of this story, I have only one thing to say
I am so sorry
Something happened with the site and this story got deleted. I attempted to put it up under a new penname, but no one seemed to be able to find it. However, it did give me time to edit some of the grammer mistakes and other things to make this phic more presentable. I was finally able to repost it and I hope that the intrest will be renenwed. There are new chapters on the way and I do apologize for the long wait.
To new readers who may happen across this phic, I hope you like what you see. Reviews and thoguhts are always welcome and much appreciated.
Thank you again to everyone for their patienceand enjoy the story.
...0000...
The night was quiet save for the sound of the softly blowing wind. The moon was full and the stars shone brightly, acting as small points for navigation through the blackened night sky. The neon glow of the streetlights cast a soft glow over the roads for weary travelers and somewhere in the distance an owl hooted.
Yet he heard none of it.
With a catlike grace, he moved down the hallway, the soft carpet disguising his footsteps. The white porcelain mask that coved the right half of his face shone brilliantly when it caught a stray moonbeam. Through he radiated confidence with every step, inside his heart was breaking. Everything he had ever loved was being ripped from his grasp from the greedy hand of circumstance.
It had been painfully hard to say good-bye to his wife. Even though she had been asleep at the time, he had nearly wept. She was the picture of serenity. A small smile hand been upon her lips, her brown curls spilled out all around her. Her small hand had been holding his, never moving from it's position from when they had retired together earlier in the evening. He had been so careful as to not wake her when he had finally pulled her hand from his. Yes, it had nearly killed him to leave her.
While that had been difficult, the next order of business was nearly impossible.
He came to the end of the hallway and entered the final door to his left. For a moment, he had to stop and compose himself before he could continue. What he wouldn't give for this moment to be prevented. Leaving his wife would be hard enough. How could he leave his daughter as well?
Mustering the courage, he approached the mahogany crib that sat in the center of the room. Placing his suitcase on the floor, he reached down and drew the small sleeping bundle into his arms. She too was lost in the land of slumber and her face was turned to the side. He smiled at her as he sat down in the rocking chair that he had given his wife the day their daughter was born.
"How I wish I didn't have to leave." he whispered as he rocked the precious bundle. "How I wish all of us could remain as we were."
The man leaned his head back against the wooden back of the chair, rare and unbidden tears coming to his eyes. He was doing what was best for the family. He closed his eyes as he remembered the inevitable conversation with his father-in-law. For as long as he had known the man, he had been nothing but kind to him.
Until the day he married his daughter.
They had objected to the marriage from the beginning, that was perfectly clear. Her parents thought they were too young; she was nineteen, he had been twenty. They had met their freshman year in college, both music majors and both alone. They had immediately hit it off and within six months, they had known that they would be together until eternity.
Or so they had thought.
After the birth of their daughter, he had approached his father-in-law for help. Both of them were still in school and there was no way that his job at the music store would support both of their educations and the necessities for the newest edition to their family. Putting his pride on the shelf, he had asked for the financial help of his in-laws. They had agreed on one condition.
That he leave his wife and daughter.
Knowing this was the only chance for their daughter to finish her education, they had used it to there advantage. The man, knowing that his first priority was to his family, had reluctantly agreed.
Now as he held his two month old daughter, he regretted making the decision. If only there were some way. He knew his wife would drop out of school to care for their little one, a move that he had absolutely had forbidden her to even contemplate. Ever since she was a girl, she had dreamed of becoming a Broadway star. He would not even think of letting her make that sacrifice.
Knowing his time to depart was drawing near, he gently laid the baby back in the crib and leaned on the railing. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a piece of paper and a long gold chain. On the end was a perfect, gold rose. Placing the paper and chain on the dresser, he pressed a soft and final kiss to the soft skin of her forehead.
"One day, my angel." he whispered into the darkness. "One day, we will be a family again. Never think I don't love you or your mother. I will always carry your memory in my heart."
With a final caress and unable to look back, he walked out of the room, out of the house and into the night