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It’s what I normally would have said, but there is something about this little thing I can’t be rude to.
“I am sitting here, writing.” I point to the notebook in my hands. I find writing poetry in the park calms my inner demons when nothing else does. “What are you doing? Why are you here?” I ask, my tone a little bit more demanding than it should be, but I don't want to be seen as the creepy guy talking to some strange kid I don’t know in the park. Maybe I should just go back over by my camp area where no one will bother me.
“I thought I would find you here, so we tried and here you are.”
“You thought you would find me here...why?” I hadn't been to this park in a while. As a matter of fact, this is the first time I’d been here in a long time since I was here with her five years ago. I’d only just set my camp back up, after tearing the whole thing down shortly after I saw her ride off with Claire.
The young girl pushes her glasses back again and pulls at her ponytail before she speaks again.
“Grandma and Mom said you would be here.”
“Wait, who?” I ask, confused.
“They said you are my dad, and I should come and say, ‘hello’.”
“Dad?”
What in the entire hell is this little girl talking about?
“Grace, come back over here, honey.”
Grace.
The name triggers something in me. A flashback triggers in me, and I could see it all in my mind's eye like a movie reel.
Five years—I see Tamryn as I remember her, young, petite, beautiful but in labor with our baby. She went through all of that without me. I hear her screams as the doctors and nurses encourage her to push. She had our baby. She had a girl, and she named her Grace. She said something as the nurse handed her the small bundle wrapped in pink blankets. “Her name stands for God’s Redemption At Christ's Expense.”
“A broken spirit and a contrite heart, Son.”
I hear my mom’s words in the wind as my mind snaps back to reality.
“Grace,” I say again as I turn to the little girl.
She stands and looks at me with a smile. “Love you, Dad!”
I look up and see my mother and...Tamryn sitting across the park, and the little girl runs in their direction.
Oh my God.
I stand to go to them.
Don't you dare go after her. I hear my father’s sinister voice in my head. They don’t care about you. All these bitches do is leave!
I try to run after Grace but my feet are sluggish. “Grace, wait come back! Mom...Tam, what are you doing?”
The girl turns and smiles. “Don’t worry, Dad; I’ll be with you soon. I am your daughter, I will find you.”
“Grace...Grace, I have questions; come back.”
“Sir, can I help you?” A park security guard slams a hand into my chest. I flash a glance at him, wanting to pick him up and toss him across the playground. I'm more than double his size and could easily do it.
“Wait a minute!” I call after my mother and the mother of my child.
“I think that is my daughter!” I glare at the man in my way.
He turns and peers over at the three females.
“Do you know this man?”
