Father's Day
Daniella Jackson wiped a tear off her face as she walked into her older brother's room. 11-year-old Chase Jackson looked up from the floor as he heard the mahogany door creak open.
He smiled at his little sister and gestured for her to come closer. She sat next to Chase and he hugged her tightly. Even though they usually fought more than they got along, today, they shared their grief on the one year anniversary of their father's death.
Still hugging Danny, Chase leaned forwards and whispered to his little sister "You should go down to breakfast. We're gonna miss the bus."
Still crying, Daniella pulled away from the comfort of his arms and stepped out of the room.
Continuing on, she walked into the nursery of her infant sister.
Daniella tucked a tuft of raven black hair behind the little baby's hair ear. Rosetta giggled and reached out of the crib, arms outstretched. When Daniella didn't move forward to pick her up, Rosetta tilted her head to the side, big green eyes peering at her sister.
Daniella smiled at her two year old sister, who painfully reminded of her father. Sighing, she swung the infant onto her waist all the while wishing that she didn't have to go to school today. Not on father's day when everyone else would be gushing over their perfect rich dads.
Daniella felt a great tug at her eyelids and a single drop slid down her cheek. She really missed him. She thought of all the times he would swing her around when she was sad and that big goofy smile that would smile across her father's face every time he saw her.
Shaking the thoughts out of her head, she swung Rosetta onto her hip and slinked down the stairs, Rosetta clutching her neck like a koala. Annabeth looked up peering at her daughter with her stormy colored eyes. Grey met grey. Annabeth's eyes were filled with pain and her eyes were rimmed with red.
Rosetta looked up from her childish examination of her sisters long blond little girl was young, but she was not too young to understand the grief in the room.
She vaguely remembered a tall strong man that would lift her up every morning cradling her to his chest. Then, he would kiss her forehead lovingly and she would snuggle closer to his warmth, nice and content.
Her bright little brain connected this to the word Daddy. She understood that this word was connected to someone she loved dearly. Rosetta touched a tiny tan hand onto her sister's cheek. Daniella smiled and set her sister in the high chair.
Moments later, Chase came crashing down the stairs. He walked over to Annabeth, who was wiping away tears as she fixed the children breakfast, and hugged her tightly.
Breakfast was a silent affair, quiet and filled with sadness. Even happy little Rosetta couldn't bring herself to smile.
Quietly when the time came, Chase and Daniella left to catch the school bus.
The bus reeled to the last stop and Daniella stepped off the vehicle. She wished that her older brother hadn't graduated to middle school last year because she wasn't quite sure that she would be about to survive the day without him.
Daniella glanced up at the hugs banner hanging at the front door of the elementary school. HAPPY FATHERS DAY! WELCOME FATHERS AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. She walked into the 4th grade hallway and started the long day. The periods rolled by and hours later, it was time for the father appreciation ceremony.
Her class filed out of the classroom and into the auditorium. A fresh breeze from the AC brushed past her face sending a shiver down her spine. Various students went up speaking about the daddy while the mentioned man sat in a chair directly below the stage beaming at his baby.
"Daniella Jackson" she heard her name echo throughout the room. She stood up, legs shaking and stepped onto the stage.
"Where's her daddy?" someone whispered
"Probably didn't care enough to come"
"Poor girl. Dad didn't care enough to come see her"
Daniella clenched her teeth and straightened up on the podium. She unclenched her teeth and opened her mouth
"My father was a brave man. He was kind, loving and I can promise you he never missed a beat of good parenting. If I close my eyes, I can still see him smiling at me, but I know that he's gone. He's not coming back."
"You see. He went MIA last year when he was serving in the Navy. Before he left, he told a soldier under his command to pass on a message." She took a shaky breath
"He said, tell my family that I love them and that I am sorry. I am sorry for not being there for Daniella as she grows up, or for my little baby Rosetta who will never get to know her father. And for my beloved Annabeth, I love you forever and always."
By then, Daniella's eyes were squeezed shut and the auditorium was silent.
"I love him so much and I know that no one will ever be able to replace the gaping hole in my heart. In time, I will heal, but never fully or completely. I love you daddy," she whispered.
When her last word echoed through the auditorium, the heavy doors slipped open and a tall man ran into the aisle. Daniella froze and dropped all of her note card on the floor.
"Impossible" she breathed. Percy scanned his bright green eyes around the room and his gaze landed on his daughter.
"Danny" he said "Danny, Danny!" Each and every word that came out of Percy's mouth was louder and more full of excitement.
"Dad!" she screamed back. Daniella hopped off the stage and ran into her father's waiting arms. Her breath hitched and just like that, all the emotions she kept bottled up for the past year came spilling out. She sobbed and her tears ran freely soaking Percy's tattered bloody uniform.
"Shhh," Percy whispered "Its okay. It's going to be okay."
Well yay! Because I have nothing better to do in my spare time, I have decided to rewrite this story. It made my cringe while I reread it so...yeah. I had to. xD Well, I hope you enjoyed that. Review and favorites are always welcome. I'd love it if you would take the time to give me some feedback. LOVE YOU GUYS.
-Vanessa