The sinking feeling in my chest over whelmed the lurching of my stomach. It reminded me of how I failed, as a husband, a friend, but most of all as a father. A tearless sob rips through my chest and I cover my face with my hands. Closing my eyes to the plain, boring walls of the waiting room did not make the pain disappear, but it stopped me from seeing the fake smiles of sympathy of the late night doctors and nurses.
Or was it morning?
I didn't even have the chance to check my watch before Sarah took the seat next to me. I could tell it was her, even with my eyes closed. She still wore the same scent of perfume she wore everyday we were married. But she moved on, she told me when she left me that she wanted to spread her wings and take flight. She said I hid her away and caged her like a bird. She was right, she always was.
Her speaking my name was like nails on a chalkboard but I still looked up. Without a word she looked down and I kne it was my turn. With a dizzy head, sluggish limbs and a weighted heart I entered the darkened room.
Even without the lights, I could still see her. I take the seat closest to her and reach out to touch her slender hand, the only inch of her body that was not covered in bruises, scratches or dried blood. One of the many machines attached to my daughter made a cloud beeping noise and my hand instantly recoiled. After the initial shock of being woken out of my sorrowful haze I reach out again, but this time to brush a strand of hair from her precious face.
It was all my fault. The reason that my beautiful angel is broken beyond repair is because of me. I should have watched her instead of being angry with her and locking myself away. Although she asked to go to the party, I declined, knowing the type of trouble she could have gotten into, the type of trouble she did get into.
The police told me the story, and I listened long and hard as my ex-wife sobbed into my chest. My, our little girl never even had the chance to take flight in her life, never even had the chance to finish high school. She never even had the chance to use her wings to take flight from the dirty scum that took her virginity, that took her wings. Although she tried to take flight, she was forced to make the decision to stay and fight for her life.
The tears fall without permission as I watch the broken angel struggle to breath, her chest rising and falling in an unusual pattern. Her delicate hand sat limply in mine and I noticed the cool temperature of it right away. How could someone do this to her? How could someone hurt a child, a baby? My baby?
He had to pay, he was going to pay. I saw the face in a picture the police showed me earlier. They asked if I had ever seen his face before. I hadn't, but now I will never forget his face, now will I ever forget the face of my broken daughter.
Her soft golden hair, now matted with dry blood. Her tanned complexion, now pale as the pillow her head rests on. Her sparkling hazel eyes, now closed to the world, never to be opened again. Her soft raspberry smile, now a frown.
The door was my only option. I whispered my never ending love for her, my own flesh and blood. I whispered my final goodbye knowing I will never see her precious face again. Not even in heaven as I know what I am about to do will send me to hell, taking the man who murdered my angel with me.
I took flight from the hospital room, my legs moving with purpose. I heard Sarah's voice call out to me, but I didn't stop. Instinct taking over.
It was time to fight.