Perfection

114 Days After, 254 Days Until

Sam

"I miss you."

My heart ached as I walked into the restaurant where I was working my day shift.

"I miss you too, baby." I looked into the sad eyes of my daughter. "We'll see each other soon. I promise, okay?"

"Okay." She nodded. "Why did I stay with Daddy?"

"Well, I had some things for work to take care of and he said you could stay for a bit." I wouldn't tell her the truth. Not yet. "You're with family, Riley. Hailey, Rose, your dad."

"But Daddy's never home. He says he's working all the time. Rose doesn't watch Tangled with me like Ale does."

Ale.

"What do you mean?"

"Alexia lays with me on the couch and laughs with me and tells me Spanish words from the movie and sings with me. Rose just sits on her phone and Hailey says the movie isn't good."

Why did our lives have to go this way?

"You'll be home soon."

"Promise?"

"I promise. I have to go, Princess. I'll call you before you go to bed, okay? I love you."

"I love you, Mommy."

I hung up just as Manuel came walking up to me. He had a sad smile on his face. Whatever news he was about to give or bring, I could tell it wasn't good news.

"Hola, Sam."

"Hi. What's wrong?"

"I am losing money, Sam. More money than I'm bringing in."

"You're firing me?"

"I'm so sorry." He laid a hand on my shoulder. "If I wasn't losing so much money...I know it's been hard lately and if there's anything I can do—"

"No, it's okay. I understand." I lifted the apron over my head and untied it from around my waist. "Thank you, Manuel."

"Of course. If you ever need anything, come and ask." I only nodded my head. "Adiós, Sam."

I walked out of the restaurant and down the street towards the park. I couldn't keep a job, a girlfriend, my own child.

I sat down on a bench. Little kids were running around, playing. I would sit here for hours and watch Riley slide down the slide. Climb on the monkey bars. I would push her on the swing. I remembered her giggles and smiles.

I wanted my daughter back.

I clicked on my phone and saw how blown up my Instagram was. People were tagging me in comments. I opened the post. It was a video of Alexia and her mom. Why would I be tagged that? Then I saw where it was from.

Her documentary. Thank God for English closed captions. I turned the sound up.

"You look horrible, Alexia. Are you not sleeping?" Eli asked.

"No. I'll be okay, Mom. I just need some time then I can focus on my recovery. Give 200%."

"It's okay to miss Sam. I miss her. Alba does too. We miss her little girl so much."