I pushed my blonde, curly hair out of my face and looked down at the ground. The sidewalk was flying along below my brand new bicycle. This was my first taste of freedom at five years old. I looked to my side and saw Daddy running right beside me. I took a deep breath and squealed as we neared the end of the street.
"You can let go now Daddy, you can let go!" I hollered.
"Are you sure?" Dad asked.
"I think I'm ready, to do this on my own." I yelled.
"It's scary!" Dad warned. I had to agree but I still needed to do this.
"I'll be okay now Daddy, you can let go!" I said. Dad let me go and I turned around and went back down the street. I fell off in front of our house and Dad ran over to help me up.
"Murphy, you did it!" Dad said. I smiled and hugged him tightly.
Twenty Years Later...
I looked at Dad standing next to me on my left and I smiled. Then I turned to my right and saw Daniel, the man that would soon have me as his wife. We were at the altar and I was so happy to be standing in between the two loves of my life.
"Who gives this woman?" The Preacher asked. I looked up at Dad and his eyes were filled with tears. His hand gripped tighter on my arm so I leant over and whispered in his ear.
"You can let go now Daddy, you can let go." I whispered.
"I don't want to, you're my little girl." He murmured.
"I think I'm ready, to do this on my own Daddy. It still feels a little bit scary but I want you to know something." I sighed.
"What's that?" Dad asked.
"I'll be okay now Daddy, you can let go." I whispered. Dad nodded and patted my arm. His grip loosened and we looked up at the Preacher.
"Once again, who gives this woman?" He said. Dad gently took my hand and kissed it.
"I do," He replied. I smiled brightly and grinned.
Ten Years Later...
As I walked into the hospital room to see my Dad, I felt a lump in my throat. I swallowed thickly as I stared at him. This was the strongest man I had ever known and he was wasting away to nothing in this lousy hospital room.
"You know he's only hanging on for you, everyone else has said goodbye." The Night Nurse said to me. I sighed and nodded my head. I entered the room and acknowledged Mom, my sister Aurora and my little brother Hunter.
"Can I have some time alone with him?" I asked.
"Come on guys, we'll go get a coffee." Hunter said, standing up. Mom and Aurora followed after him and I felt my heart break as I laid my eyes on my father. I crawled up the bed and cuddled into him.
"You can let go now Daddy," I whispered. I gulped and looked up at his face.
"Your little girl is ready, to do this on my own. It's gonna be scary, I'm not gonna feel up to it sometimes but I want you to know something Daddy. I'll be okay now Daddy, you can let go." I whispered. I lifted up and kissed his cheek. Mom, Aurora and Hunter came back into the room and came over to the bed.
"We love you Daddy, we'll see you soon." I whispered. Aurora and Hunter leant over and kissed him and then Mom did. The room was silent except for the one solitary, never-ending beep that indicated what we all were dreading. Mom broke down in tears and I got off the bed. We all walked over to comfort her and I felt the tears in my eyes.
Daddy had finally let go.