The day is as it usually is
As it always is
As it has been for the past twenty-eight years.
The same pink bicycle (oh how his Grace had loved pink) is where it should be.
He sits and watches.
Waits.
Considers.
He considers going home because he always considers going home. What's the use of it anyway? He can't say anything. She doesn't know anything. Together they would make a blissful ignorance.
But alas, he is the one corrupted.
He considers going closer, to the window of her classroom, but the questions that his appearance could draw would be tricky. Although she doesn't know him, he can't make a frightful first impression on Grace.
Paige.
No, Grace.
She is Grace. She will always be Grace, his Grace. So he does what he has learned to do: Nothing. He stares at her bicycle instead because that is still a part of her. He'll watch her go home, at least he has planned to.
But then another she arrives, with her air of superiority and her stench of malice. The Queen is making her first move. A card to call the opponent and a position to get his attention. He only hopes that his daughter is not the pawn.
He gets up suddenly, his mind wild and eyes crazy. Ha! Crazy, insane, cuckoo, mental, psycho, mad. MAD! If only she knew the extent of this madness of his. He could destroy her. He could. Or he wishes he could. But now she is gone again. Disappeared as if she still had the magic to do so. He changes his routine for the first time in twenty-eight years. He gets up and walks to the bicycle.
He stands there a moment.
He closes his eyes.
He remembers.
For a second he even forgets because all he sees is Grace. Not Paige. Grace. Her smile as she finds him hiding in the woods. Her tea party. Her joy. Her innocent "Papa" as she called to him. Not that fraud, but him. Her real father. He opens his eyes and feels the clashing worlds again. Because this is his curse.
No Grace, but the memory of her.
And the memory of his faults.
He gingerly picks up the Queen's card and turns on his heel. He walks away and with a malicious smirk whispers "Down the rabbit hole"
