Let Love In

5

'Dad – where is Frank?' is the first thing Bandit says when she wakes up and sees the empty couch the next morning.

'I don't know, B.' Gerard's tone is serious, and he was just as confused when he woke up and didn't see Frank there. Maybe he had something to do, or maybe had to go to work. After all, they don't really know him. He probably has a girlfriend or a wife to go home to, for all they know. Gerard wishes that's not the case, but he doesn't want to keep his hopes high. 'I think he just left early,' he explains, trying to make sense of it, too. 'He has things to do, I'm sure.'

'But –' the girl says with a frown on her face. 'He said we were gonna play with Lois.'

'I know, honey.' He spreads out his arms so she seats with him in the recliner. 'And Frank was really kind to come to your party, and play with you. But he has his own life, and a job –'

B looks at him with a pout, knowing the power she has on her dad.

'Bandit Lee – don't be dramatic,' he jokes. 'I'm the drama queen here.' Then, he tickles her until she's doubling down. 'You're not allowed to grow up anymore, you hear me?'

'Ugh,' Bandit says, rolling her eyes as Gerard hugs her.

That earns her more tickles and her dad kissing her cheeks. 'I'm being serious, young lady.'

Being a single dad with two jobs isn't easy. But it's the only way to give B the life she deserves.

Even though that means not spending enough time with her. She keeps growing up, and out of nowhere, she has her own personality and opinions on everything. Gerard knows his family is always there for him, and he has Mikey, who offered himself to take care of her on Saturdays so he can go teach at the museum.

And just now, he got a great opportunity to make one of his dreams come true, so he's been spending more time at a studio he rents with his coworkers, working late. And by the time he comes home, Bandit is already asleep.

But this is her weekend. Per tradition, they do everything she wants for her birthday. A party, she has it. Star Wars marathon? She gets it. For breakfast, she asks for pancakes, so he makes her some and watch a movie. Even though he can't get her the dog she wants just yet, he agrees to take her to the shelter so she can play with puppies, and later that night, they go to the movies.

***

Frank wakes up way past noon.

The second he opens his eyes, Lois is already on top of him, begging him to take her for a walk. He can't remember when was the last time he slept this well, but he needed it. And he thought he'd feel better after that, but there's still that weird feeling like something's about to go wrong. A hole in his stomach that won't leave him alone.

Won't let him be himself anymore. Any other feeling is clouded by this void, all his thoughts a little off.

And he should be used to this, but it's not as easy.

It's been years already.

He can't even remember who he used to be, and the things that he liked don't have the same effect anymore. He's just a soulless body floating around.

He sees old pictures sometimes, and can't recognize himself. That Frank could smile, despite everything. He enjoyed his life, and liked being around people, and playing guitar. Social injustices made him angry, and he hated fake people.