"Papa, where are you...? Why did you leave me? Papa, I love you!" the little girl cried into her father's ruana bitterly.
When Kristi was just a year old, her parents were in a tragic accident. Kristi was an orphan. She was sent to the orphanage in...
It was the night of my eighteenth birthday. I enjoyed it, I suppose. My family gave me some new clothes and art supplies. I got a chocolate cake. It was rectangular and decorated like the night sky. The townsfolk were also at the party. I guess they made a big deal about it because I was now eighteen, legally an adult. And I knew what abuela was wanting to do.
She's been pushing Isabella and this boy, Mariano, together. I have a feeling the man will want to propose soon. Well, I think she's going to try to get me married. There's only one boy I want. My secret boyfriend, Andres Garcia.
We've been best friends since we were kids. We never imagined our friendship would blossom into something more. But, it did. And, I really love him. Abuela, on the other hand, isn't concerned with whether or not I love Andres. She's concerned on whether or not he's a good fit for our family. She doesn't know, of course, that Andres and I are together. All she knows is that we spend a lot of time together, which she tries to prohibit as much as possible because, according to her, Andres wouldn't be a good fit to the family. But who cares if he's a good fit or not?! I love the man!
Only one person knows about Andres and I. Delores. Though, I wonder sometimes...Does my papa know? I feel his presence at times, so I know he's watching over me. I wonder if papa would let me and Andres be together.
That night, I was in my room with Andres, opening the present he'd given me. My eyes went wide when I saw it. It was a beautiful silver necklace with a moon and star pendant. I looked up and smiled brightly at Andres.
"Thank you, Andres! It's beautiful!" I hugged him tightly.
"You're welcome, Kristi," he smiled back at me.
"Will you help me put it on?" I asked him. He nodded, taking the necklace from me. I moved my long hair and waited till he had clipped the necklace in place.
"There. Finished." he smiled. "I'd better go now, though...We don't want Senora Alma to see us. And my parents don't know I'm here."
"Alright, Andres...Love you!"
"Love you too, Kristi." With that, Andres and I left my room. I watched as Andres snuck out of the house, Casita helping. I smiled before sighing and going back to my room.
I took my sketchbook and opened it to a fresh page as I sat down at my desk. As I drew, tears formed in my eyes. I always thought papa would be here when I turned eighteen...When I fell in love...My papa was my everything. When I lost him, it felt like I had lost a part of myself. But, overtime I healed.
I sighed heavily as I looked down at the finished product of my drawing. It was me...And a shadow of my papa handing me a rose for my birthday. It was my birthday wish...I may have healed, but that doesn't mean I don't want papa to be here. I do. More than anything. But, I know it can't be...
A stray tear rolled down my cheek, as I began to sing a song I hadn't heard in years. A song that one man, my papa, used to sing to me. "I'm your little girl...." I finished the song before putting my head in my hands, crying.
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Third Person POV:
All throughout the party, Bruno kept watch over his daughter. He saw through right through her smile. She was sad. Bruno wanted to be there for her. But he couldn't. He wished he could give her even just a small gift. But he couldn't.
The man walked back to his small little room, his gaze shifting to the drawing his daughter had made him years ago for his birthday. He smiled, a tear forming in his eye, remembering that day. The days when Kristi was just a little girl. The days when he could still hold her in his arms. The days when he could laugh, play, and sing to her. When he left ten years ago, he brought that drawing with him. He couldn't bear to leave it behind.
For someone who didn't exactly have a whole lot of food, a bed, anyone but rats to talk to, and nothing to entertain himself, his wishes were surprising to some. He wished he could, one day, leave this place behind the walls and be with his family. He wished that, they would love him and he could help them. But, most of all, he wished he could see Kristi. Hold her, love her, and be her papa again.
