Thunder rocked the houses foundations as lightning ripped across the sky, lighting up everything as far as the eye could see. Moving quickly I walk towards my house, wanting nothing more than to get inside as soon as possible.
"Daddy!" a little girl squealed, running to me as soon as I opened the door, straight away pulling on my jacket in her attempt to make me follow her upstairs.
"Sweetie, what is it" I ask, concerned what was wrong.
"Daddy, please, come on" she pleaded again, continuing to pull on my shirt. So I did, slowly I followed my thirteen year old upstairs until we reached the attic room that she had habitated since the day she was born.
She turned to look out the window, looking on as another crack of thunder was heard nearby. "Watch the thunder and lightning with me Daddy?" she asked me quietly. I was surprised, normally such trivial and pointless things such as thunder and lightning didn't interest her.
"Of course sweetie" I answered gently, moving towards the window and standing at her side. I reach out and put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to me. "Why the sudden interest though sweetheart?"
"It's beautiful isn't it" she replied quietly, not turning from her position and avoiding the question all together. "Daddy, why do you think I'm here?"
"You're my daughter" I answered, wondering what she was on about "where else would you be?"
..."Because none of this is real Dad, Human life is as evanescent as the morning dew or a flash of lightning. Where we are stood now, is you dreaming of a moment that can never happen. I was never born so I'm here because you need me, your daughter, to help you get over the pain"
"What do you mean none this is real" I ask.
"Like I said, this is a dream. When the next thunder next roles across the sky, you will awake up in your bed. I will not be there for I was not born. I'm here to tell you that I'm sorry that I caused you so much grief" Here, a small tear leaked from her eye before she continued "I'm here to tell you tell you that none of this your fault, and that you need to move on and be happy"
"Bu-" I try to interject.
"No, listen to me Daddy. I do not blame you, so you should not blame yourself. I must go now though Daddy, you're going to wake up soon."
Slowly she faded into nothingness as quietly to begin with, a rumble of thunder began to fill the void that was the quiet that seemed to me had befallen the Earth. Tears began to leak from eyes before, suddenly a flash of lighting forced me to close my eyes.
Opening my eyes again, I was no longer in my room. I was no longer in the company of my daughter. I was led in my bed, all alone as emotion overwhelmed me and I broke down. The last few months came back to me in a rush as I remember, remembered the pain, the loss, and the heartbreak that broke me and my friends apart when she departed the world.
For her I would try though, for her I would try to move on. I would try to be happy again. Slowly, I stand and move towards the door. Today was as good a day as any; maybe this was a new dawn...
I think about you every day,
Your memory just can't seem to fade,
I guess it was just your time,
But this is where I draw the line,
I'll try to move on,
But now that you are gone,
I'm afraid to say to goodbye,
Until I've said this through and through,
To my daughter,
I love you