Caroline Rose [discontinued]

9

Hunter

I swear she called me tie dye eyes, unless I'm hearing things, but I don't think so. She stares at me with wide doe like eyes, and if I'm being honest, it's kind of uncomfortable.

This whole night has been uncomfortable. I should be sad and I'm not. Danielle has been crying on and off all day, and Charise is too young to understand what's going on and me?

This is morbid, I know, but I always knew my dad was going to die.. he'd been preparing me for years for this day and I guess all the preparing my dad did, did some good.

I feel that I should be grieving more, but I just don't have any tears to cry. Like I said I saw this coming from a mile away. Dad knew it. Danielle very well knew it too.

The girl with black hair and bright blue eyes, turns her head away from me. And the man beside her, who I assume is her father, ushers her to the next room where the refreshments are.  Weird. Do I have tie dye eyes? What the hell does that even mean?

Maybe I'm in shock. Maybe it just hasn't sunk in that my dad is dead. Or maybe I'm just fucked up.  Should I be more upset? Should I be crying? Should I be more.. I dont know, emotional?

Fuck, I don't know.

Danielle puts a hand on my shoulder, and little Charise, barely tall enough to reach my belly, wraps her arms around one of my legs. I can imagine this is scary for her. I can imagine how confused she is. I bet she's wondering where dad is, but somewhere deep deep inside she knows he won't be back.

When everyone says their condolences, and hugs and prayers. Danielle goes to where the food is, leaving me with Charise.

"What are all these people doing here, Hunty?" She says in a small voice.

"They're here to say goodbye."

"Why? Where are we going? Why is mommy crying?"

So many bloody questions. I sigh and pick her up.

"We're not going anywhere.. hey, let's go outside and play, yeah?" I say, tickling her side.

Charise squirms in my arms and giggles and quickly nods her head.

"Push me on swing?"

"Of course." I say, poking her cheek which makes her laugh more. I put her down, and she bee lines it to the back door. Danielle's head whips up and towards the direction her daughter went, and I mouth at her that I'm taking charise outside.

Danielle smiles.

Outside, the air is cool.  Charise runs off the porch and towards the swing set but freezes mid- stride.  In a split second she runs back to me, arms wide open.

"What's wrong?" I ask her, but knowing very well she isn't going to answer back. Someone or something is near her swing set.

I push Charise behind me and try to squint into the dark to see what it was that scared her. I, of course, Cant see anything. I take a step forward and in the distance I see a silhouette of a body swinging on one of the swings.

"Who's there!" I call out and the body stops swinging. It's quiet for a moment.

"Caroline!" The body calls back.