Just to see them again would be fine, see them laugh, see them cry. See them.
He looked at the young boy smiling at the camera, he remembered the day the photo was taken. They had all gone to the park, they had taken the dog with them too. He could see the dog's tail in the photo, behind the little boy, who had his small arm wrapped around his big one.
His little boy, now on the other side of the world with his daughter and his ex wife.
*Mind your manners
Watch your weight
Be a good boy
Just behave
What's wrong with you?
Settle down.
Keep your two feet on the ground.
Stand up straight
Sit up tall
Never falter
Never fall
Stay in school
Make the grade
Never fail
And never fade
Be a hero
Be a star
Anything but what you are
Find a girl to possess
Always pay, pursue, protect
Be a master
Be a slave
Work your ass into an early grave*
He quickly brushed away a tear that was sliding down his cheek. He ran his fingers over the cracks in the old photo, looking like it was ready to fall apart. He would never throw this photo away. All the money in the world couldn't replace this photo. No money in the world could replace the love he had for the two little angels in the photo, either.
*But you deserve to be loved
You deserve something real
Time to heal
Time to feel*
He stared at the little girl in the photo, remembering the day she was born like it was yesterday. She was beautiful, always had been and always would. He always laughed about the number of boyfriends he would have to torture.
Now he wouldn't even get the chance to do that.
*Daddy's favorite little girl
Dress up in your momma's pearls
Serve us breakfast in her bed
Heard a little kiss on the forehead
You are sugar
You are spice
You are growing up so nice
Paint your nails
Paint your face
Paint around the empty space
Find a man that can provide
Try and fill the hole inside
With a family and a home
Tell yourself you're not alone
Keep your memories of yourself
In a shoebox on a closet shelf*
He wished he could see them now. It had been a while since he had held them, told them how much he loved them. God, he hoped they knew he did love them, he really hoped they did. They were his world, a part of his life. It didn't matter how many times his ex-wife said they were part of his old life and he had a new life, he would always love them. Those kids were him, they were his every breath, his every thought and his every heart beat.
*But you deserve to be loved
You deserve something real
Time to heal
Time to feel
But you deserve to be loved
You deserve something real
Time to heal
Time to feel*
He quickly shoved the photo in his shorts pocket whent hey door opened. He looked up to see his wife standing there, smiling.
"You ready?" She asked.
"Yep, be right out." He told her, watching as she closed the door.
He took the picture out again, carefully folding it and placing it back in his wallet. He would call them tonight, he decided, grabbing his bag and jacket.
Looking around the room one final time, Steve turned off the light and ran to catch up with Debra.
