"It's okay. I'm okay! I promise you I'm not like this." Sean pled as he watched his daughter stare back up to him with her glassy eyes.

It was as if she'd seen a ghost. He remembered that look as if he'd seen it yesterday. The look that only bought back memories to haunt him of his violent past. The only difference was that it was worn on her mother.

"I'm not a bad guy I swear." Sean whispered, slowly walking towards Emily.

Emily continued to walk backwards only to be backed against the door of Sean's office. Her eyes still remained glued to her father's and towards the wall that was punched.

There was a difference from the man she met at the entrance from the first moment she spoke to him than the man that she was staring at now.

Maybe this was why her mother kept him hidden from her for so long. But she also noticed, the more he watched her, the more relaxed he seemed. She didn't know what she was doing, but whatever it was, it was calming him.

"I just don't want you to be afraid of me." Sean comforted as he sat against the wall his daughter stood against while still leaving her with the space she needed.

"I just need to— Emily cried as she immediately grabbed the door knob behind her.

Before Sean could say another word, Emily quickly ran into the office leaving the door to be slammed behind her. The only sound that was left to be heard was the noise of the double locks being used and the sound of Emily's feet walking away from the door as if it were on fire.

"I promise you I'm not that guy anymore." Sean tightened his jaw as he wiped the sweat and tears from his face.

She had only met him a few hours ago and she had already seen his worst side. He promised himself he'd never be that guy again, a long time ago. But, a piece of his heart was missing for the last ten years and there was no way of getting that time back. That was the worst part of it all.

"I love you, okay?" Sean cracked softly as he allowed the hot tears to escape from his eyes.

"And I'd never let anything, or anyone hurt you." Sean clenched is fist and jaw at the thought of anyone ever doing such thing. He'd always protect the people he loved, but for his daughter he'd go to war.

He had only met her a few hours ago, but it felt like she knew him a lifetime. From the day she first locked eyes at him, it felt like she starred right through him. Her eyes were gentle yet she never looked vulnerable. It was like she just knew deep down that Sean would never hurt her.

It was like she just knew no matter what anyone could've have told her for the last ten years, she saw something special in him. She looked at him as if his heart was worn on his sleeve, which no one ever seemed to do. Other than the mother of his child.

"Emily, I don't know what anyone has ever told you about me."

"I don't know what Emma's-

Sean took a deep breath, as he tried to control himself at the thought of just thinking about Emma.

Words couldn't describe the anger he had over Emma Nelson. He'd never felt pain like this. Only she could make him feel like this and she wasn't even there. But that was the kind of power only she could hold.

He experience so much trauma throughout his life and seeing much more than a child should've saw at his age. He had been given a rough deal most of his life. But, he always knew somewhere along the lines, he deserved some kind of break from everything he'd been through.

Although, he knew he did great with his career of becoming what he always dreamt and making much more money than he ever thought he'd see, nothing could've compared the greatest reward of all. The feeling of the piece of his heart being robbed ten years.

"I don't know what Emma has ever told you about me." Sean slowly sat down with his back against the outside his office door.

"I loved your mother so much. I have never hurt her. That's why I don't understand why she would do this to me." Sean threw his head back against the door allowing a deadly smile to release from his mouth.

"Out of everything we'd been through, I think this takes the cake."

"And the crazy thing above all" Sean hesitated and shook his head as to what he was about to say next after realizing the sniffling he was hearing earlier was now quiet.

Emily allowed her silent tears to stream freely from her eyes as she gently took one step at a time away from the desk and towards the door her father sat behind.

"You still there kid?" Sean said softly as he smiled through his teeth at the thought of him actually being able to say that.

Never in a million years did he think the most beautiful little girl would step foot in his office, and claim to be his daughter. It was like the unsaid prayer that he'd always needed and it was finally answered. That little girl was it.

Sean tried his best to listen carefully through the door and could've sworn he heard a footstep. Almost as if she were coming closer.

"I'd never hurt you Emily. I promise you." Sean smiled, gently pushing his hand underneath his office door hoping his daughter was close enough to see it.

Little did he know, his daughter was now sitting on the other side.

(((*****)))

"And the crazy thing above all what?," Emily asked as she leaned her head back against the door only to hear the sound of her father's calm breathing which somehow began to calm hers. It was almost relaxing.

Sean through his head back in relief. Just hearing her voice felt like music to his ears. She was his and there was nothing in this world that could change that.

"And the crazy thing above all, from your mother hiding you from me for the last ten years. Without giving no good damn reason why."

"Not that there should be an excuse." Sean clenched his fist as he fought to hold back the hot tears that tried to escape.

It hurt him so badly almost, like a knife being ripped through his back. Only Emma Nelson had so much power over him to cause that kind of damage. He'd never open his heart to anyone but her.

"The craziest thing above all Emily."

"Is that I still love her"

Loving can hurt, loving can hurt sometimes

But it's the only thing that I know

(((*****)))

Sean had finally let the tear stream down his face hoping I'd be his last. Emily on the other hand smiled from ear to ear. Somehow Sean felt it through the door.

"That's right. Your mother's a real nut job for doing this to me." Sean laughed thinking about all of the things he'd went through with her never believing it could get this bad.

Then again, she's always been a nut job. This just takes the cake." Sean sang causing Emily to laugh till her eyes watered.

When it gets hard, you know it can get hard sometimes

It is the only thing makes us feel alive

"And even now, I still wouldn't trade her for anything." Emily was sure she could feel her father's heartbeat through the door.

"She helped me create the greatest gift we could ever have." Sean thought as he smiled up to the ceiling. And with his daughter coming all the way to Wasaga to find him, he knew she needed him. And deep down, he knew Emma did too.

It was like they were somehow spiritually connected, and deep down in her spirit she knew her father would never lie to her.

"Can you trust me?"

Photograph by Ed Sheeran