Hope this was worth the wait! I had this done for a week now, but I was busy!

So make sure to review & give me ideas and your though on this chapter.

CHAPTER 1: Happy Birthday

Dear Dhara,

Happy Birthday Sweetheart! How does it feel to be seven now? I bet your probably bragging about it to your friends at school (if you're wondering how I know, your grandmother told me.) Grandma Kris told me you have lost your memories of me... well- I can't blame you. Last time I saw you, you were only 3. Oh how young and little you were. I remember you knew how to speak so well for a 3 year old. I wonder how you look now. I know I've said the same things over in your other birthday letters but, I just wanted to say – I really miss you. I've missed you since the day you walked out of my life… I hope your father is taking good care of you. I wish I could be there for you and be a part of your life, but I can't – your father won't allow it. I've tried, but I don't even know where you live. The only way I can reach you is by giving my letter to Grandma Kris and she mails it to you. .

Today's Dylan's birthday too, I hope your father didn't forget. It's okay though. Oh and before I forget I wanted to tell you about someone I haven't mentioned in the other 4 letters: You have a little sister, her names Katie. Grandma doesn't know that you have a sister, and neither does Daddy.

Dhara, do you ever ask yourself why your mommy isn't around? Did you ever ask your father about me? I know your probably not reading this letter, since last time I asked Grandma your response, she said that Chad thinks you should wait till you're older to read them. Well now that your seven and you already learned to read and write at an early age, I'm hoping today is the day you finally ask about me. If not- don't worry. I still love you. Have a nice birthday sweetie, till next year.

Love,

Mommy.

Pennsylvania: October 9, 2017

"Dhara, Dhara wake up." I said lightly shaking her arm, trying to get her to wake up. All I got was mumbling noises and her turning her whole body so her back was now facing me. She hated when people woke her, especially this early in the morning for school.

"Dhara… Dhara it's time to wake up."I said a little louder, shaking her little rougher.

"I don't want to go to school." She said with a face of annoyance.

"But it's your birthday, and all your friends will be there." I tried to convince her.

"So, I want to stay home." She pleaded.

"I will buy you cupcakes for your whole class." I said in a singing tone. Convincing always worked for her.

"YAY!" She leaped up and jumped off her bed already dressed and ready to go.

"What the- you tricked me again!" I argued.

"Ha, oh daddy you're so easy to fool!" she said giggling with joy.

"What you do this time?" I asked smirking; knowing she always had some master plan behind her amazing acting skills.

"I woke up early, got ready for school, and made sure to pretend to sleep again and wait till you try and offer me something to convince me to go to school- which you did! Now I get cupcakes for everyone at school, yay!" she explained and yelled, running out the door and made her way down the hall, about to walk downstairs.

"So baby, what do you want to do for your birthday?" I asked.

"How about a party!" she offered. "Anything for you, today it's all about you!" I said, lifting her up and walking down the stairs with her in my arms. Once we were downstairs, I put her down, letting her free from my hold.

We walked into the kitchen and she sat no one of the stools on their island.

"So what you craving, sweetheart?" I asked.

"My usual! Chocolate chip pancakes with whip cream!" She said with excitement. She always loved them since we went to a dinner and asked for them. After that, she made me try and make them and she said mine were better.

As she ate her pancakes, I decided to go through the mail. Let's see here:

Marshall, Ferguson, Sonny, Mom, Bank wait- Sonny? Oh yeah that's right, every year she would send something on Dhara's birthday. But I don't let Dhara see it because I don't think she would understand clearly why her mother is out there in the world somewhere and not here.

I've only contacted Sonny once in the past 4 years. Reason: She wanted to be able to see Dhara at least once. But that was 2 years ago, after that I haven't heard from her. I remember the last time I saw her was the day of the divorce… I thought that it would be impossible for me to leave… but for some reason – I just left. I didn't even have a second thought.

This may sound selfish but, when Dhara asked who and where was her mom… I stated that she was with the angels in heaven. She wanted to know how – I simply said that she was sick. To my surprise, Dhara didn't cry. She cried when her goldfish died from being overfed, she cried when Sophie [her poodle] went missing, but returned home – but she didn't cry when she believed that her mother had died. I asked her why she was okay with it and she stated –

"She's with the angels." She said. She was only 5 ½ at the time. She hasn't asked about her after that. She asked if I had a picture of her, and I said no. But I wasn't lying- I really didn't have one. It was the one thing I forgot to bring with me when I left- pictures. Now I have nothing to remember Dylan or Sonny by.

"Daddy" I heard Dhara say. I put the mail down and looked at her.

"Do you remember Mommy?" she asked. I was hoping she wouldn't ask. I hesitated for a while, debating with myself if I should tell her about Sonny or not.

Is she old enough? Maybe I should wait a while longer… oh for heaven sake she's seven! She won't understand much still, so why not just tell her the honest truth? But just not the WHOLE TRUTH.

"Daddy?" she asked, snapping me out of my trance. "You never answered me."

"Oh I'm sorry… yes… I do remember her." I said, hoping she won't ask any more questions.

"Uh, can I ask you something?" she asked. Jesus.

"You just did silly, ha, go ahead." I said.

"What was she like?" she asked, tilting her head not looking at me any longer but instead looking out the window at the bird fountain we had, where four birds stood. I hesitated for a while, what should I say?

How about the truth, moron.

But what WAS the truth?

It's being honest.

No duh Sherlock, I meant what was I suppose to say if I was to tell the truth?

Well, what do you think is the truth? Try and remember what Sonny really was like.

….

The whole world stopped.

& then I did what my head told me to do, I tried to remember: Everything. I tried to remember her sweet voice in my head, like talking to an angel. I tried to remember her delicious scent that made me smile, mhm… Strawberries. I tried to remember her once forgotten face- the face of the one I once had fell in love with.

But then everything was pretty clear to me. I didn't have to try to remember everything. It was always there, in my head, like floating memories. It never left my head, and if I knew any better, it wasn't going to be forgotten anytime sooner.

There was no way I could forget Sonny, as hard as I tried. She will always be in my life somehow.

I took a quick glance at Dhara who just stared at me, and I took in her image. Her dirty blonde/ brown short locks, her deep blue eyes, and I remembered the day she was born.

"I like Dhara. It means Earth you know. "I said.

As much as she resembled me most, she was always a reminder of Sonny. Her giggle, her personality, her kind heart- she was my whole world.

She didn't take her eyes off me, wondering if I had a real answer to her question. And so I answered,

"She was Amazing.

SONNYS POV SNEAK PEEK:

"I love you too Chad. I know we will make it through their lives all the way, right?"

"Of course we will. They will have both their Mommy and Daddy. No favorites, no splitting up, and no divorce. I promised you forever Sonny, and I don't break my promises." He said.

As I remember his promise , the only words that keep repeating in my head was " No Forever."

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Next Chapter: Hesitation