A Day In His Life (Completed)

Daddy...

Alaya

"One little monkey, jumping on the bed. She fell off and..." Daddy sung the song as I jumped off the bed into his arms. He then softly tapped my head with his finger "...and bumped her head." I lean back in his arms and pretend I'm dead. He laughs. "Hey little monkey. No playing dead!" he says tickling me. I laugh. Daddy and I always have fun. He has been sick lately so we have not been able to have much fun. But I think he feels better. He is smiling again. Before, he didn't smile. He always looked sad. Unless I was there. Daddy was always happy when I was there.

"Daddy, can we go to the park? I can push you on the swings if you feel sick again." I say, pulling on his hair. Daddy had nice hair. My favorite thing about daddy is his hair, and his kisses, and his hugs, and his laugh. I love my daddy. I hope he gets better soon.

"Not today, baby. Daddy needs a nap." he says putting me down. I grab his hand and follow him up the stairs to him and Mommy's room. Mommy is at work. Me and daddy lay down in the bed and he kisses my forehead. "You know daddy loves you right, baby?"

"I love you too, daddy." I say, yawning. My eyelids get heavy and the world grows dark...

*********************

I wake up in a cold sweat. It's been a long time since I've dreamt about my father. Most of my dreams used to be about how scared I was in the hospital when his cancer escalated to stage 4. And his funeral...

My father died when I was 7 of testicular cancer. When he was diagnosed, the cancer had already begun to spread. And within a month of finding out he had cancer, he passed.

Rolling over in bed, I grab my phone and look at the time. A text notification pings on my screen from Mike.

Mike: Good Morning, beautiful. Thinking about you.

I smile as a warmth washes over me, my unease erased, and I reply: Good morning, handsome. I miss you. And Thank you.

Mike: For what?

Alaya: For making me smile. For always making me smile.

Mike: Just returning the favor, baby.

I get up feeling a heavy weight lift off of my shoulders and start my daily process for work. Today shall be a good day.

***********************

Mike

I decided to surprise Alaya with a few of her favorite things. So I text her to get the process going.

Mike: Hey babygirl. How is work?

Alaya: It's so boring. Save me! :(

Mike: I wish I could but you gotta make the donuts baby! I have a question tho. Remember the conversation we had a few weeks ago about our favorite places in the city?

Alaya: Yea I remember. Found out some interesting stuff about you Mr. Roberts.

Mike: Lol same here. My real questions is, the botanical garden you mentioned. Is it the one downtown or the one on the west side?

As I wait for her reply, I walk into the store and grab her favorite candy and a little stuffed Stitch.

Alaya: The one on the west side. It's so beautiful. Especially during this time of year when the blossoms are fresh and new. The smells are wonderful. And there is a willow tree there. It's my favorite spot.