Shine a Light into the Future

Montreal was a beautiful city. But like all cities it had its dark underbelly. Fortunately thanks to a certain former geek that underbelly was gone. At the moment he was shopping with his daughter, Damila. Even though Damila stood at 180 cm, tall for a sixteen year old girl, her thirty eight year old father still towered over.

Overall she was the striking image of her mother except for two things. She had inherited her dark hair and teal eyes from her father. Cody himself was surprised by how many boys had fallen for her looks and it reminded him about something Gwen had said.

Cherish the time and attention your daughters are giving you now Cody because pretty soon it'll be you going after them for attention.

Oh how true it was. In fact Damila seemed outright bored despite all the exotic catalogue Cody was flickering through.

"What about a shark?" asked Cody to his daughter, "You're mother loves sharks? I mean that's why she's always protested against it in Shark Awareness week."

"Mom's like that but I doubt she'd like it if you'd give a shark for your anniversary," sighed Damila putting a hand to her face.

"How about a book then?" questioned Cody as he looked through the catalogue, "I know she loves to read. Especially good ones that no one talks about. Like this one?"

Damila just kept ignoring him, despite Cody pointing to something he knew Bridgette would have loved. The quiet whine as she looked at the opposite make up store was all Cody needed to hear.

"Just pick one from the store dad," drawled out Damila, "My mom won't care. Just make sure it has a lot of steamy stuff in it."

"Damila!" squawked Cody, "I raised you better than this."

Even though it was true.

"Well it's true," Cody's daughter stated.

Okay no DNA test was ever going to be required for Damila.

"But still I need to get her something. Seaweed brownies and lentil cakes are nice and all but I want to get her something that will last." He merely stated.

However even as the words left his mouth Cody realized that was the wrong thing to say.

"Dad," frowned Damila as she straightened up immediately.

Damilla was now giving her full attention to her father. He probably would have wanted it less than a minute ago but she could tell that he certainly wouldn't have wanted it like this.

"I mean I'm not immortal like moms are. I need to get her something … something before I go," Cody closed trying to apologize.

No we are not having this dad. Please don't remind me screamed Damila internally. But she didn't dare say anything. She loved her daddy too much to do otherwise.

Damila choked up, "It's not like we could forget someone like you."

Like that time you jumped straight into Niagara Falls to save her half-sister, Adeline.

"I just want to be remembered little fish."

Little fish; his pet nickname for her because she was such a great swimmer.

"I'll be lucky if I reach two hundred and every day it keeps getting closer. There's still a lot of time left for me but for everyone else in our family?" confessed Cody, "How long is forever?"

How long will you spend looking at my tombstone? Some nights it was what kept Cody up until sunrise. Not all the time. But it always happened after every one of his birthday and anniversary. It was something everyone knew but didn't say because …

"Don't say that!" sniffed Damila tears falling down her face, "Me and Hagit and Shin and my moms, all six of them. Everyone. We'll take care of you. I promise. Just you wait you'll live to be three hundred dad."

That was a lie and they both knew it. At least that's what Cody thought. He didn't want this. Any of this.

"Oh what am I saying," chuckled Cody darkly, "I'm not supposed to be so glum. Today's a happy day. It's why all brought my kids on this shopping trip. Now come on. We're wasting time."

His own mortality didn't bother Cody that much. He wasn't a normal human. He was going to live a long life. But the look on his daughter's face certainly did. The look of pain on the people he loved always did.

"Okay so maybe not a book?" questioned Cody trying to not look at his quietly weeping daughter, "What about a bike? She loves the outdoors so a mountain bike is something you mother will love."

That seemed to lighten the mood a bit.

"You know that her balance sucks on land," snorted Damila although her eyes were slightly red from the teardrops falling down her face.

"Yes but that's why she needs it. She'll love it," smirked Cody before frowning. Turning to his daughter Cody just asked, "You'll make sure she keeps it?"

"I will," broke down Damila as she grasped her father's hand.