HER MISSING PIECE(freewrite)
“I’ll be back before your birthday. I promise” her dad was tying the laces of his army boots as her mum prepared his bag. She wanted to celebrate her birthday with him and it was in a month.
He looked really cool in his green uniform, so neat and proud. He had promised her, and she had looked forward to his words.
“Can’t you stay, popsi?” He said it was his job and he had to. He hugged her mom one last time before leaving.
That was the last time Anna saw him. At first he sent letters and asked talked about missing her and her mother. She kept all the letters he sent in a box under her bed. But then he stopped sending them. Her mum always tried to explain to her, maybe his phone wasn’t working, maybe there was no signal. Always maybes. But Anna knew she was more worried than she was.
Days turned into months, and months turned into years. He had promised he would be there for her birthday, but he had not been to seven birthdays. She waited and so did her mother. And each passing birthday, she always wished for her dad to come back home. But nothing, no one.
Whenever people at school asked about her father, she would just say ‘he’s not around’.
By the time she turned eighteen, she stopped talking about him. Her mum was struggling just to keep up with their bills. They feared he was gone. They had been nothing from him for the past eight years now, it was time for them to accept what they feared the most. She had learned to live without him, and they didn’t talk about him anymore..
It was the day of her graduation, she would soon be going to college. She wore her gown and cap and tried to smile. Her mum was very proud of her and she was happy, she should be happy, she was but something was missing. Her dad. He was supposed to be there, sitting by her mother clapping and cheering her or doing whatever.
She walked to the stage to take her certificate, trying to put on the proudest smile she could. She smiled softly for a photo. Then she saw someone, amongst the crowd. A man in a military uniform, older than she had remembered. His hair had gray lines and so did his beards, there were slight scars on his face. But it was him.
“Dad…” she ran off the stage without a second thought. She didn’t care about the camera or her teachers at that moment. Her cap flew off as tears washed down her cheeks. Her mom stood up instantly to look, she looked where Anna was running. And she gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
“Gabriel…”
“Dad!” she cried as she crashed into him. His arms wrapped around her tightly as he took a haggard breath. “Is…Is it really you? Oh, dad.”
“There, there. I’m here baby. I’m so sorry.”
Where have you been? We…Mum and I waited. We didn’t hear anything from you. Dad, we though-”
“I know. There was an ambush, I was injured really bad. I was in recovery overseas. I’m so sorry. Your mother?” Her mum reached them, tears also pouring down her face and she hugged him really tight.
He was back. He was safe. This was the happiest she had been in so many years.
“I missed you every day.”
“I missed you too”
“Don’t, don’t do that again. Don’t disappear with my permission. Don’t make us wonder if you’re still alive. Just please be with us, popsi.”
“Popsi, I can’t remember the last time I heard you call me that, I haven’t heard that in so many years. I’m not going anywhere again. I promise.”
“The last time you promised-"
“This time, I’m staying.”
After the ceremony, they went home together. Anna kept looking at him, afraid he would disappear again.
“I know I missed many birthdays, and I can’t them back.” He opened a small box and brought out a small necklace with a heart pendant. “I bought this a long time ago, but I didn’t have to chance to send it.”
“It’s beautiful.” She smiled as he helped her put it on. “Thank you.”
“Don’t you go crying again, if you cry, then I cry too.” Anna nodded, sniffing in her tears. She smiled happily as her mother joined them on the table.
Her family was whole again.