Beautiful Betrayal

Fingers crossed

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"I loved him the way some people are to be loved from a distance."

~Sanhita Baruah
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V I C T O R I A
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Emotionally overwhelmed, I hadn't realized when sleep enveloped me in its warm embrace. When I woke up, it was already 6 in the evening.

Rubbing my eyes, I took in my surroundings. My room was bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, casting a warm hue over the familiar furniture. I stretched languidly,

Checking my phone, I saw 6 missed calls from Dominic. Not in the mood to talk, I placed the phone back on the table and headed to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth.

Descending the stairs, I found my father on the couch with a newspaper in his hand. "Dad, you're home early," I remarked, surprised by his presence.

He glanced at me and smiled. "Yes, princess," he replied, patting the space beside him on the couch. Acknowledging his smile, I joined him.

The quiet warmth of the room enveloped us as we sat side by side, the newspaper becoming a mere backdrop to the unspoken connection that made our shared moments so precious. We were engrossed in conversation when my mom's voice echoed from the kitchen.

Dad quickly got up and went into the kitchen to help her. Seeing them work together and love each other as they had for as long as I could remember, I felt truly fortunate to have them as my parents.

Observing their love, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of longing, realizing my own sense of misfortune in matters of the heart.

A few minutes later, my father returned and took a seat beside me, Unable to resist, I threw my arms around him, and he swiftly enveloped me in a warm and fatherly embrace, creating a moment of profound comfort.

"Dad, I wish I could be a little girl again," I sighed,

"Oh, princess, I also wish you could be my little girl again," he responded, his words carrying a mix of nostalgia and unwavering love. "It feels like just yesterday when the nurse placed you in my arms, wrapped in a pink blanket. The years have flown by, but in my heart, you'll always be that precious little one wrapped in a pink blanke."

"And then, you sprouted up, becoming as tall as a small dwarf, all while bombarding us with the most unexpected questions. Your insatiable curiosity about everything brought a special kind of joy to our lives," he said with a fond smile, relishing the memories.

"You were like a little explorer, Each day brought new questions, new discoveries, and Seeing you grow up so fast has been amazing. I'm incredibly proud of the wonderful woman you've become. No matter how much time passes, you'll always be my little princess,"

I couldn't help but sob in response to the overwhelming emotions that surged within me. Gently, he wiped away my tears and placed a tender kiss on my head, We sat there for a while, wrapped in a comforting silence.

"Dad..." I began, my voice soft and hesitant.

"Yes, princess?" he responded, his voice a gentle.

"You and Mom were college sweethearts, but how did you realise she was the one for you?"

He leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face. "It wasn't an instant realization," he began, a smile creeping across his face.

"you know about your mom's fear of spiders and cobwebs?" he asked, and I nodded in reply.

"Well, during college, we were helping a mutual friend move, and I was repairing his attic. Suddenly, my balance went awry, and I ended up taking a fall," he chuckled, reminiscing about the past.