Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me. I wish they did, but sadly they do not.

…

Replaced

Every father is protective of his little girl. He's willing to chase away the monsters under her bed, kiss her boo-boos, and pick her up after she's fallen off her bike.

Once upon a time, my daughter wanted me to fight her monsters and put a band-aid on her boo-boos. I used to wrap her in a big bear hug whenever she fell down. Now, she doesn't need me anymore. She'd rather fight her own battles and slay her own dragons. And whenever she starts to fall, she's got him to pick her back up.

Every daughter has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. She knows how to look at him with her big blue eyes and get whatever she wants. When she does something wrong, she erases his anger with a sorrowful look.

My daughter used to look at me. Her beautiful blue eyes used to make me melt. Her smile made me want to protect her from all the pain in this world. Now, that smile is rarely flashed at me. Her eyes are trained on another man and he's the one willing to take on the world for her.

I loved her first. I'm the one that held her seconds after she was born. I'm the one that tucked her in every night, read her a bedtime story, and drove her to school each day. I comforted her when she was afraid, hugged her when she was happy, and wiped away her tears when she was sad.

I walked out on her. I have no right to intrude in her life. She doesn't realize how my heart was ripped out when I left her behind. She doesn't know that I've always kept track of her, cheered over her accomplishments, cried over her heartaches. I've checked up on every single person that's walked into her life. Including him.

I have no right to judge him. And I have every right to judge him. No man is good enough for my daughter, but this one might be the closest. He's rough around the edges and cocky as hell, but I think I like him. He knows how special she is. He keeps her safe, holds her up, makes her smile. He loves her as much as I do, even if she doesn't realize it yet.

No father wants to be replaced. And every father knows it is inevitable. I'm glad it's him. I know he would do anything for her, just as I would. He's been there for her when I haven't. She trusts him unflinchingly, the way she'll never trust me. Grudgingly, I step aside and watch as he takes my place in her heart.