"All World Insurance-"
"Real Water-"
"Bushido 6: Street Score" coming soon-"
Billboards passed my window like clouds in the midday sky, a sinking feeling in my chest.
"The dream will once again end..." the voice spoke, "What will you awake to this time sweet dreamer...?"
I immediately spun around to meet the voice; but no one was there.
Nothing but the wind moving across the fields, I scanned the area, but there wasn't anything but field mice and birds.
"Hearing things..." I thought, "Last thing I need..." pulling out the immunoblockers.
I read the red bottle, "Take once every day for moderate relief."
There was an eerie feeling at the back of my mind as I reluctantly swallowed the pills; something told me once a day wouldn't be enough...
"Northwood Elementary 2 miles" read a sign as I passed by.
Zuzuka was almost done with school; it was time to go pick her up.
I waited outside the school, my hat pulled down to avoid the other parent's attention.
Out from the school doors Zuzuka came running, "Papa! Papa! You're here!" She said with excitement.
"Of course I am!" I replied, "How was your first day?" I said, holding out my arms.
She came in for a hug, "Look what I drew!" She pulled out a picture of a large green dinosaur.
"Woah- you drew this?" I asked.
"Yep! And see?" She said, pointing to a small girl and a strangely shaped man riding the dinosaur. "We're gonna ride the dinosaurs!"
"Are we now?" I laughed, "Then I guess we'll have to find one, huh?"
"Really? You promise?" She asked.
I knelt down, "Pinky promise-" I said, holding out my hand.
Her finger slowly curled around my own; so small and delicate, so different than my own; cold and metallic, almost engulfing hers. "..."
Margaret's words ran through my mind, "Then what-? You won't even have a daughter to give it to!"
"She- She needs her father."
I stood for a brief moment, silent.
"I may be bulletproof..." I muttered, under my breath. "But I felt that."
"Huh? What's wrong Papa?" Asked Zuzuka, tugging at my coat.
"Must be gettin' old." I chucked, standing up.
She looked up at me with confused eyes; "You're not that old Papa-"
"No- I'm ancient." I smirked, "How would you like to go get that ice cream we talked about?" I said, picking her up.
"Let's go!!" She cheered.
The sun began to set as I carried her on my shoulders. "What flavor did you choose?" I asked.
"Strawberry!" She replied, mouth covered in the sweet treat. "What did you get Papa?"
"Just vanilla, nothing special-" I said, "Say- would you like to see something cool?"
"Yes!"
"Okay..." I said, bending down. "Hold on..."
With one swift motion I activated my leg enhancements, jumping up to the roof of the candy shop.
"Woooaaaah!" She cheered, "We flew!"
"I thought we could sit down as we enjoyed our ice cream." I said, sitting her down on my lap.
"You can see everything up here Papa!"
We looked out over the valley as the sun slowly crept away over the horizon, casting a pink hue over the sky.
"Papa?" She spoke, looking up at me.
"Hm? Something wrong Zuzu?" I replied.
"Do I go to school tomorrow?" She asked, a slight hint of sadness in her voice.
"What? You didn't have fun?" I replied, "Cause that drawing says otherwise..."
"No-" She spoke, looking down at her melted cone. "But I wish you were there."
"I see..." I said, a sadly honest expression across my face.
"Miss Barnes and you are my only friends, but you're always out in the field so we can't play together." She spoke.
"Yes, I know- But-"
"Miss Barnes wants you to come back- She says after Mama went to heaven all you do is work. And it makes you all grumpy and mean when she talks about it."
"Well, when Margret and I talk about "Grown-up" things, she doesn't seem to want to see my side of things." I said, sternly.
"But- she prays for you Papa! And I do too!" She protested, "So could you please come and play with us more? I'll even come help you if it makes you happy..."
"Zuzuka..."
"I- I miss you Papa..." She looked up at me, a small tear in her eye. "Mama does too-"
I sighed a deep breath, looking down at her I almost shed a tear myself; "Come here..." I said, wrapping my arms around her.
"Papa?"
Perhaps Margaret had been right; after Irka, all the feelings I had before I met her came flooding back. I lost myself in work, trying to forget- Trying to build a future, so I, so "we" wouldn't have to relive the past. But-
"Ok..." I said, scratching her hair. But it was time I started living in the present...
Living for my daughter- "Thank you..." I said, holding her tightly. "For waking me up..."
She didn't understand, but she simply smiled and hugged me back. "Love you Papa~"
I smiled as well, "I love you too-" kissing her forehead.
I stepped onto the porch after putting Zuzuka to sleep; looking over I noticed Margaret leaning against her car; a cigarette in hand. She let out a quiet puff; it danced in the moonlight before dissipating into the night air.
Walking over, I let myself through the gate. "I'd like to apol-"
"SMACK!" Her hand came across my face before the words even left my lips.
"You're a real jackass." She said, "You know that?"
"I know." I replied.
"I should kick your ass for the bullshit you put me through-" she said, taking a puff. "But- We both know that's not what that little girl would want."
"Then-"
"And don't think we're friends again just like that, Daniel." She said, sticking her finger in my face. "It'll take a lot more than a few apolo-"
"I'm selling the land."
She stopped, looking at me with a look of utter surprise. "What...?"
"I'm long overdue for a change..." I spoke.
She quickly recomposed herself, "Damn, 'bout time you got that shit outta your ears."
"When are you..."
"Tomorrow." I replied. "After school."
She took another drag, "You really are serious, aren't you?"
"Yeah, the time I'm with my daughter is more important than the time I spend working on this farm; I just wish I had realized it sooner."
"Hm-" She hit me in the shoulder, "Takes a man to admit his mistakes; glad you finally grew a pair." She snickered.
"Call me if you want me to look after Zuzuka tomorrow when you go sell it." She turned around, "Oh- and bring some steak and beer-" She smiled, "I'm grillin' for us-"
"Heh- I look forward to it," I replied, waving goodbye.
"But-" I reached into my pocket, "There's still one more piece of the past I'm not finished with." pulling out the blue shard.