Somebody That I Used To Know

The End

6 Months Later

"Daddy!" Lily exclaims.

"Hello, darling. How was school?"

"It was good. We played bingo."

"You did? That's fun, dear."

"I know. Can we go to the park today?"

"Let me see what Mummy has planned and of course we can."

"Yay!"

Tom opens the door for Lily to get in the car.

"Can we jam?"

"No, not yet." Tom says. "I have to make a call really quick. Stay quite, alright? It's supposed to be confidential."

"Okay, Daddy."

Tom's phone rings and someone's answers. "Hello?"

"Joe, hey, it's Tom."

"Oh, Tom, how's it going?"

"Pretty good. Listen, I came to a decision about your offer."

"You did? Are you going to take it? We're very excited to have you back."

"Actually, no, I'm not. I can't do that. You've recast a new Loki, he's got the part now and that's good. That was a good part of my life but it's not mine anymore. It's not right to take this part."

"We... we had to replace you, you know that."

"You let me go during the hardest part of my life, Joe. I can't come back. I wish you all the best and I appreciate you coming back to hire me but I can't do it. I have an offer for a role in another TV show and I going to take that. Have a nice day alright."

Tom sighs and hangs up the phone.

"Can I talk now?" Lily whispers.

"Sure," Tom replies while turning.

"I'm excited you can drive again. Mummy doesn't like my music."

"Oh! That's right."

"Are you playing it?"

Dancing in the Moonlight sounds through the car, Lily's face lighting up in a smile.

"I missed you, Daddy."

"When I was gone? Me too."

"No, I mean this Daddy. You're not sad anymore and you're fun now."

Tom softly smiles. "I missed him too, dear, but don't worry, that Daddy's never coming back. You get me from now on, alright?"

"Okay!"

That Evening

"Here you go," Molly says and places the brussel sprouts on the table.

"Thanks, Mummy."

Lily takes one on her plate and eats it off of the fork.

Tom's eyes widen. "Lillian?"

"What?"

"Why aren't you having a fit? You like brussel sprouts now?"

"Mhm."

Tom looks at Molly in confusion.

"I manipulated her." she chuckles. "I said they were daddy's favorite while you were win the hospital so she started to eat them and now loves them."

"Really?"

Lily nods, covering her mouth with her hand to cover the brussel sprout. "It's yummy."

"Huh. Molly, you haven't mad brussel sprouts in 6 months and she likes them?"

"I made them a few weeks ago, you just don't pay attention."

"Well then. Lils, I'm glad you like them."

"Me too! Can I have more?"

Molly laughs and pours another scoop onto her plate.

After dinner, Tom gets up to check the mail.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, Lils?"

"Can I come with?"

"Alright. Get your shoes on."

Tom holds Lily's hand as they walk down the street, the only light coming from the street lights.

Tom knows that 6 months ago, he wouldn't even step out of the house if it was dark. Now, he was walking with his 6 year old daughter down the street to get the mail.

It was the end of his own personal reign of terror. The old Tom that would've been terrified was just somebody that he used to know.