Limp-Web-1292 t1_iy48aju wrote
I have not seen my father in a decade. His desire for a son eclipsed his marriage. After two divorces, he had ten daughters, and three were extramarital. He abandoned us all the same.
I lived to become the daughter he could be proud of. I studied hard, forwent marriage, and joined the military. I barely survived the last war and wanted to see him again.
I knocked uneasily on his trailer door and heard him stir inside. I straightened up my jacket and tucked any stray hair neatly behind my ear. My heart skipped as he neared the door.
He opened the door so aggressively that the hinges could fall off. “WHAT” he sprouted, looking around wildly before his eyes fell on mine. His initial shock dissipated and was replaced with what I could only describe as disgust.
“Father.” I swallowed. The speech I had prepared left me without effort. I lifted my chin and faked a toothy smile.
“I have returned, I said barely audible, from war.”
He let go of the door and it swung towards me. My elbow caught it and I stepped into the familiar trailer.
He watched me closely in bemusement. He was silent, and we met eyes.
“War.” I said again this time loud enough for him to hear. “I have returned from it.”
He seemingly lost interest in me and turned back to the TV in the background.
Blood rushed to my face, and my nails pinched into my palms.
“WAR DAMMIT,” I shouted stomping my foot. “I COULD HAVE DIED YOU BASTARD.” I was surprised by my outburst and looked brazenly at the cluttered floor.
If I had remained my gaze, I may have noticed his surprise. By the time I looked up I saw contempt.
“War? You do not yet know war. You are a child who has tasted their first autumn frost and called it winter.” He spoke to me like a child, and I felt myself sinking into my uniform.
After all these years, he viewed me as a damsel in distress. The dismissive tone caused a lump in my throat and tears to sting my eyes.
“Fuck the riddles, dad.” I said fighting back tears, “ I am a soldier.” He was unmoved and his eyes trailed back to the TV.
“Take that monkey suit off, Lindsey. You are an embarrassment to this country.”
I was dumbfounded and shook my head in disbelief. My shoulders lost all tension and I couldn’t stop the tears from coming.
“But Dad.” I choked out. His disgust for me grew, and he turned his head to focus more intensively on the TV.
“I have no children,” he said coldly. My heart dropped, and I cried in my uniform as he walked off.
biderandia t1_iy4t3w3 wrote
I feel sad for her.
Limp-Web-1292 t1_iy54ejo wrote
Thank you! I wanted the tone to be sad.
biderandia t1_iy78hun wrote
Well done
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