My breath was heavy and I could feel my heart bursting out. The moment I wanted or didn't want.
For the longest time, I've wondered, did I want to see her again? Won't I just bring more pain to my daughter?
Because of me, we have lost so much. Will she ever love me if she knows the truth? She won't.
I am just a curse or a nightmare in the dreams of the people around me.
I am not worthy of being called a father...
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"Mr Edward, are you okay?"
It was Miss Mary, looks like I lost myself in deep thought for a moment.
"Please, sit here."
She pointed at the sofa and I sat right on it.
The room was well made, it three windows and red mattresses scattered on the floor but, the beauty of the room didn't appease me once because
there was saw no sign of Dia.
"Can I ask, where is she?".
"You sure are impatient, Mr Edward but if you were that worried maybe you would've arrived at your fixed date."
"..."
I acknowledged that I was supposed to come here last night not today, I had made them sleep here for the night.
" I am sorry for any inconvenience, I've caused you."
I stood up and bowed my head.
" Please don't bow down your head. It's not a big issue, I assume you haven't visited this area before. So, mistakes like this are bound to happen."
I sat back in my seat and waited for Miss Mary to speak.
" The one you are waiting for in another room. Please wait for a second, I bring her."
"Yes."
As I said yes, Miss Mary left me alone in the room.
"..."
The countdown had begun, and I was getting impatient and nervous every second.
This feeling, I can't even describe it. It hurts but the pain puts a smile on my face.
My vision gets blurry, I rub my eyes with my hands, and feel them watery.
" I can't cry, not now "
I can't act weak right now, my daughter is here I should rejoice and smile right now.
" I need to distract myself."
I got from the sofa and moved towards the window, through the window I looked at the rush and the masses trying to make their way inside.
"Paperwork seems to be a most troublesome thing a common man these days"
I stop looking, at the view outside as the sunlight falling through the window hurts my eyes.
I walk towards the desk with some paper lying on it. It was a typewriter with some paper inserted, most probably the person who left it was still working on something.
" Let's see for myself."
I was about to walk, to the paper went the door suddenly opened.
"?!"
"It's Mr Edward. I am sorry, it took so long."
" No, it's not a problem."
Seeing Mary, I release the knife from my pocket.
" Well, there you go, She is here."
Mary turned to the side as I saw another girl walk into the room. A single look at her reminded me of one person.
" ...."
A young girl with straight red hair and bright blue walked into the room. Dressed in cream silk grown, she looked so... So beautiful.
She is my daughter... No, she is my cutest gift and most precious gift from 'her'.She is alive and so well.
"Hello..."
Her voice was kind and pleasant, her smile made me smile too. The brightest I have ever smiled.
" Hi. Dia, I am Edward. I am here to take you home."
"...."
Hearing words like this, the girl blushed a bit.
I also realised I had made the environment awkward with my words.
" I see. Both of them are already getting along. It seems very promising."
Miss Mary, saved me by changing the subject. I am thankful to her.
" Please take a seat. The two of you. I'll get something to eat and a cup of tea."
She left within a sec, leaving me and Dia behind sitting at the tables.
"..."
I wanted to start a conversation but didn't what to do We were sitting there awkwardly until I noticed something.
" I see, you are nervous. Getting itchy feet?"
I asked her.
"huh?.. How did you know?"
'Because I had the same problem for years.' could have been a reply but I can't say that.
" Well, it is straight on your face. I am good at reading people."
She nodded with a little excitement,
"Have you ever travelled to foreign countries?!"
"Yes, I have I am travelled to more nations and kingdoms than you have ever heard of."
The excitement on her face grew as she heard me,
"Then can you please help me?"
" Help? I what?"
" You see..."
Dia got up from her seat and went to the table with the typewriter on it. She picked up some of the paper and brought them back to the sofa.
" Are you writing a story?"
" Yes, In the orphanage all my teachers told me, I was very creative. They encouraged me to try to write a story."
" Writing a story? What's your age, I might ask?"
"..."
I realised, I asked something I shouldn't have.
" I don't know. I don't have a proper birthday. My teacher told me, I was born on 25 December. So, I celebrate that day."
Her face wasn't happy, her smile had vanished, and all I saw were my failures as a father.
I'll be just a curse to the people around me, it won't ever change...
" Well, say Dia. Let me guess your actual birthday?"
But.....
" Can you do it?" she said as her face cheered up a bit.
" Yes, I can. I tell lots of things about you, magic like this is no big trick. I can even te your Father's name?"
I have to try to overcome it.
" Yea, your actual birthday is...."
"It is?!!!" her excitement was bursting out of her face.
" You were born on 28th February."
"Oh.."
By giving her everything I took from her. As a sailor moving in a storm, she is the sun's bright light.
" Can you guess your father's name?"
" Umm..."
" Come on try."
" .....Edward."
" That's right." I placed my hand on her hand gently patting her.
" Your father is really lucky to have you."
She smiled at me with little innocence and small tears coming up in her eyes.
She will hate me when she will reach the truth but until then... I want this moment, this feeling of happiness to never end.
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