Second chances are rare diamonds in the rough, as is allowing oneself to truly be happy. Will Noah and Milan push through their pains of the past to grab the priceless gem by the hand? Or will the tests put to their love prompt it to slip through th...
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Noah
Ever since I was a little girl, I'd looked up to my father.
Even when he became a monster that I didn't recognize. Even when he hardly acknowledged anything I'd ever done. Something inside me has always wanted to make him proud. For him to look at me the way he would Darryl, all our lives.
But I was always the headstrong daughter that gave him a hard time.
The one that held him accountable when no one else would, and it only grew worse as I grew older. At one point I was 'Daddy's Little Girl,' then the next thing I knew, we could hardly have one conversation without shouting at each other.
All my life, I've refused to apologize for it. And up until today, so had he.
We spent a while, sitting on the light wooden swing that resided on the front porch, chatting, but mostly in silence.
As much as I'd like to simply put the past behind us and move on, I couldn't get myself to say a word to the man. I felt as though I've said enough, all these years, and if he hasn't heard any of it by now then he never would. No point in digging those emotions back up. It's tiring.
What rang most in my head as we went back inside was the words "I'm sorry."
Said with such sincerity, such remorse. I hardly believed they came from his mouth. Only when I looked at him with disbelief, he looked deep into my eyes and said it again, drawing out the words in a way that left every letter, every syllable, hanging in the air. And it was then that a heaviness settled upon my chest. But I'd have been damned if I let myself cry.
'I was never really a father to you...and for that I apologize... I made too many mistakes to count, and let a great deal of pride get in the way.... I should've never treated you the way I did honey. I'm so sorry Noah...'
Glancing at myself in the mirror I passed in the hallway leading to the backyard, I let out a fragile sigh. My expression was stoic, but the mere gloss in my eyes betrayed my resolve.
Don't you dare cry...
Inhaling a soft breath, I opened the glass window pane door, instantly welcomed by a cool spring breeze and the faintest scent of flowers from my mother's garden. She and I had always shared a love for them, her being the reason that I know more about botany than I probably should.
I'd looked everywhere in the house for my girlfriend. My mother said the last place she'd seen her was the back porch with Brynn, although I don't exactly see my niece either. My brows furrowed as I called out to her.
"Baby?"
No answer... Stepping down the three steps of the porch, I ducked my head around a bit, for the backyard was rather spacious. "Milan??..." I bit my lip. Where the hell is she?
