The Things We Left Unsaid

the little girl I once was

When I was little, my world revolved around my daddy, 
He was my everything, my knight, my guiding star. 
I was his princess, wrapped in the warmth of his pride, 
A cherished joy in his eyes, glowing with love. 

I remember the way he looked at me— 
A gaze full of adoration and pride, 
How his arms would envelope me, 
A fortress of affection, both comforting and overwhelming. 
I loved him with a heart so pure, 
A love that seemed unshakable. 

But then, the nights turned into tears, 
As I cried myself to sleep, 
Longing for him, aching with a deep-seated emptiness. 
I asked about him at every opportunity, 
Hoping for a glimpse of the man I adored, 
Yearning for him to appear on my birthdays, 
To sing and fill the room with his presence. 
I clung to hope like a lifeline.

Now, as I sift through memories of the man I once knew, 
The man who once tucked me in and held me so tight, 
I find that the love I held has changed. 
The fierce affection I once felt has faded, 
And the longing has dissolved into indifference. 
I no longer ask about him, 
No longer anticipate his arrival, 
No longer find joy in celebrating my own life. 

I’ve grown to detest the hugs that once brought solace, 
And I’ve learned to tuck myself into bed, 
Wrapping my own heart in solitude. 
In the quiet of the night, I sometimes wish 
To be his little girl again, 
To feel the safety of his embrace, 
Just once more, in a fleeting rememberence of what it once was.