Seen

2

I sat behind the curtains at dad's speech.

My book was open on my lap but I focused on stage.

Illusion of Grandpa and Gramma came on the stage. She was playing the piano while Grandpa was getting ready to go.
Young dad was on the couch sleeping. And then they woke him up.

"Who's the homeless person on the couch?" Grandpa asked, joking.

"This is why I love coming home for Christmas right before you leave town." Dad said.

"He nice, dear. He's been studying abroad." Grandma said.

"Really? Which broad? What's her name?"

"Candice." Dad answered.?

"Do me a favor? Try not to burn the house down before Monday."

"Okay, so it's Monday. That is good to know. I will plan my toga party accordingly. Where are you going?"

"Your father's flying us to the Bahamas for a little getaway."

"We might have to make a quick stop."

"At the Pentagon. Right? Don't worry, you're gonna love the holiday menu qt the commissary." Dad joked.

"They say sarcasm is a metric for potential. If that's true, you'll be a great man someday. I'll get the bags."

Grandpa was such a douchbag. Sometimes I'm not sure I wanted to know him.

"He does miss you when you're not here." Grandma said. "And frankly, you're going to miss us. Because this is the last time we're all going to he together." I felt my eyes tearing up.

"You know what's about to happen." Grandpa came back. "Say something. If you don't you'll regret it." She whispered.

Dad stared at her blanly and then turned to his dad. "I love you, dad. And I know you did the best you could."

Grandma kissed him on the cheek and then they left.

I know what happened next. They died. In a car accident. But that's not the real last conversation they had. It was just what he wished it was.

I walked outside to get some fresh air.

Dad's mistakes define him. The fact he never got to say goodbye. To tell his parents he love them. That's the broken part he will never get fixed. The part of him before mom would never be fixed.

I walkwd back inside when I heard the crowd clapping. But dad wasn't there. "Excuse me?" I stopped a lady. "Seen my dad?" She pointed at a door that lead to a corridor.

Dad was standing there with a lady I've never seen before. He held his hand angrily. "Dad?" I said calling him.

She whispered something to him I didn't hear. I got a notification on my phone. It was the news about Lagos. "Wanda." I sighed.

"You think you fight for us? You just fight for yourself." She said angry to dad.

"Hey!" I yelled.

"Who's gonna avenge my son, Stark? He's dead and I blame you." She looked at me. "Pretty girl. Keep her safe." She turned and walked away.

"Dad? Dad!" He turned to look at me. "Are you okay?"

He nodded. "Let's go home, sweetie."

"Yeah. I'm here with my car, so I'll meet you at home."

"Okay." He kissed my forehead and then walked away.

I picked up the phone and called Steve. "Hey kid." He answered.

"How is she?" I asked him, starting to walk to my car.

"She blames herself. Thinks it's her fault."

"Well, it isn't."

"Amelia, she's stubborn."

"But it's not her fault." I sighed. "I'm gonna come by tomorrow— shit I can't. I'll just call her. Steve, it's not her fault. She can't think that." I hung up and dialed Wanda's number.
It went to voicemail.

"Hey, W. Call me back please. I just want to talk."