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Cover Art Produced by Daniel Erny

Edited by Eileen Proksch

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This story is dedicated to Cara Arthur.

I love you lady! I hope I made your fictional HEA an amazing one. Keep it classy and don't forget to smile every day.

I woke up to the muffled sound of my mother's panic-stricken cries. I wiped my eyes and swung my legs over the bed as I looked at the clock—1:19am. Lately, this seemed like a regular occurrence. My parents had been fighting a lot lately. I had spent many nights listening to them from the top of the stairs. My mom was always upset when he would come home late from work. They were always arguing about my dad's boss, Rochelle. I never understood why my mom got so upset—Rochelle was Daddy's boss. He had to do what she said if he wanted to keep his job. One way or another, my parents always made up—my dad would say he was sorry and that was that. But something told me tonight was different—my mom never cried like this before.

Just then I heard my daddy's voice as it drifted up the stairs and into my bedroom.

"Tell her whatever you want to, Maggie. I'm leaving!" I took a deep breath. He sounded angry.

Wait! Where was he going?

He just got home from another stupid business trip. I never got to spend time with him. He was always working. I couldn't even remember the last time he had been home for more than two days. I missed him like any little girl would miss their father and I think he finally noticed. Before he left on this last trip, he had promised me that this weekend he would make it up to me by spending every day with just me. I was so excited to finally get some daddy-daughter time with him that I counted down the days until he returned.

Everything was silent, except the painful sobs of my mother. Quietly, I climbed out of my bed, opened the door and sat down at the top of the stairs so I could hear them better.

Between Mommy's sobs, I heard her softly ask, "How could you do this?"

I heard Daddy expel a loud sigh. "Christ, Maggie, you think I like doing this? You think I like living a lie?" He paused and it got quiet for a second. "Rochelle is pregnant again."

Who cares if she's having a baby? Why did they always fight about her?

"I can't keep living like this, Mags." His voice sounded soft and sad. "I have to make a choice and Rochelle and the girls...they need me more right now."

The girls? Who was he talking about?

"They need you?" Mommy said, her voice turning angry. "What about Cara? She needs you, too!" I put my hands over my ears. Mommy's voice was loud. "I've known about you and Rochelle for years now, but I stayed, for Cara's sake! And now, just because you fucked up again, you're going to run out on her like this—abandon her without even saying goodbye? She deserves more than that from her father!"

Daddy, please don't leave me.

That's when my tummy started to hurt. Frantically, I ran down the stairs—I wanted to go with him.

When I rounded the corner to the living room, I saw my mommy sitting on the floor, her knees pulled into her chest, tears pouring down her face. She looked so sad. My dad was standing by the front door, luggage in hand, as he pushed his fingers through his hair—his face blank.

"Daddy, don't leave!" I cried as I flung myself into his arms. The tears started pouring from my eyes. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight.

"I have to, princess. Your mother and I....we...." He sighed. "I have to go." He removed my arms from his waist and turned to the door, opening it slowly.

"Take me with you, please, Daddy! I want to go with you!" I begged as I grabbed hold of his leg for dear life.

He stopped and knelt down in front of me. "You'll always be my little princess, Cara, but right now you have to stay with Mommy." He wiped the tears from my face. "I need some time with..."

"Rochelle?" I choked out. His head fell and he nodded slowly.

"I won't get in the way. I promise! I'll be really good! Please, just take me with you, Daddy!" I cried out. "Don't you want me with you?"

"Of course I want you with me, princess," he said as he placed his hands on my shoulders. "But I can't take you with me. Now, be a good girl and go back to bed. I'll see you again soon." He kissed my forehead and stood back up. Grabbing his suitcase, he walked out the door.

He was really leaving me here. How could he not want me? I was his princess.

Before he could shut it I ran after him. "Daddy! No!" I screamed as my sobs took over. "I'm coming with you!" I followed him down the porch stairs and into the dark. When we got to the car, I opened up the passenger door and got in as he placed his bag in the trunk.

Just as I was buckling my seat belt, I felt my daddy's strong grip around my arm. "That's enough, Cara!" he yelled, startling me. His tone was cold. It scared me. He yanked me out of the car and shut the door. Pain shot through my arm as he squeezed it. Shaking my shoulders, he continued shouting at me. "Stop acting like a baby! You can't come! Go back inside with Mommy and leave me alone!"

His words crushed me. I looked up at him and didn't know who he was—he wasn't my daddy anymore. I could feel it. Rochelle had been slowly taking him away, but now, looking into his unfamiliar eyes, I knew he was completely gone. I sunk down to the ground and pulled my knees into my chest as I rocked back and forth, trying to comfort myself as I watched him get into the car. I looked out into the darkness, staring at the taillights as they disappeared around the corner.

I never saw him again.