She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. All he can do is laugh in my face, she thought bitterly, after abandoning me for 18 years.
"It's open!" responded the voice from the other side. He was lacing his right boot onto his leg and dropping his pants leg over it. She opened the door tentatively not sure if she was interrupting something important.
"Sorry to bother you Mr. Hardy, but do you remember Annalyse Bromin?" she asked quietly. His eyes widened at the mention of the woman he'd loved years ago who had walked away from him. I haven't heard that name in seventeen years. he thought. Looking up from his left boot, he stared, speechless at the young girl in front of him. She was medium height, with long black hair and green blue eyes that shone like the Caribbean. The hair made her skin look translucent but it had the blue highlights in it that only natural black hair held. He knew then that she was related to Annalyse, but didn't know how.
"Yeah, I remember Anna. Why do you wanna know?" he asked, suspicious. She told me that she'd take care of everything. That I could "Do whatever the fuck I wanted. Go to hell." Did she change her mind?
"Because I thought you would like to know that she died. And that I have no one left. But you that is. She told me before she died that you're my father. I looked at the birth certificate and you were on there. You are Jeffery Nero Hardy correct?" she answered him, suddenly more pissed at his lack of reaction.
"You're what? Wait- how old are you? I know it doesn't seem important but it is. I remember her. God I remember her. How'd she die?" he asked, suddenly concerned not only for himself but for the girl whose life seemed to have fallen apart.
"Eighteen. I'm eighteen. She died of pneumonia. Her immune system wasn't for shit and it killed her." the girl replied, knowing that if he was asking about that, he'd believe her. Jeff sat there speechless, mind racing. Oh my God. She kept it. Her. She kept her. Never told me about her. Never told her about me. All this time I've been a father and I haven't known. God she has to hate me. he thought.
"You have her hair. And skin tone. But they eyes is like looking in a mirror. What's your name?" he asked as her eyes lit up. It made him smile involuntarily, seeing her suddenly relax some.
"I'm Ilyriana. Ilyriana-"she began, enthusiastic, before Jeff cut her off.
"Ilyriana Mari-Rose." he finished, surprised that Annalyse had used the name they had picked together all those years before. Ilyriana just nodded, not sure how to react. This is all so unexpected. He totally accepted me as his. I have a father. I have family.