Maria stormed into the garage, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. The dim light and the smell of motor oil filled the small space, where Richard stood by his workbench, fiddling with an old set of tools. The tension in the air was suffocating.
Richard glanced up as she entered, his brow furrowing slightly.
Richard: "What’s wrong?"
Maria threw her hands in the air, her voice trembling with frustration and hurt.
Maria: "Everything, apparently. Mom won’t stop crying, and now I feel like the worst daughter in the world for even thinking about leaving. And you—you’re just hiding out here. Say something, Dad! Tell me what you really think."
Richard put down the wrench he was holding, the clink of metal on wood echoing in the quiet garage. He leaned on the workbench, his expression unreadable but his eyes softening as they met Maria’s.
Richard: "It’s not that simple, Maria."
Maria: (desperately) "What’s not simple? Either you support me, or you don’t. I need to know where you stand because I can’t keep fighting both of you."
Richard sighed, running a hand through his graying hair, the weight of his emotions evident in his slumped shoulders.
Richard: "Your mother’s scared, Maria. And I am too. Not because we don’t believe in you, but because we’ve always known where you are, that you’re safe, that you’re close. The thought of you out there, far from us... it’s hard to get used to."
Maria felt her chest tighten. She crossed her arms, trying to keep her voice steady.
Maria: "But, Dad, I’m not leaving forever. It’s a job. A chance to see if I can do this. Why does it feel like I’m breaking your hearts just by trying?"
Richard’s face softened as he walked around the workbench and stood in front of her. He placed a hand gently on her shoulder, his touch warm but firm.
Richard: "Because, in a way, you are. It’s not easy for a parent to let go, Maria. Your mother and I... we’ve spent so much of our lives taking care of you, protecting you. And now, we have to step back and let you take care of yourself. That’s not an easy thing to do."
Maria blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears. Her father’s words, though honest, only added to the guilt swirling inside her.
Maria: (softly) "But isn’t that what you raised me for? To be able to stand on my own? To chase my dreams?"
Richard nodded, his eyes glistening slightly.
Richard: "It is. And you’re doing exactly what we hoped you’d do. But that doesn’t make it any less painful for us. Watching you go, even if it’s for the right reasons... it’s like losing a piece of ourselves."
Maria felt the dam of her emotions break, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
Maria: "I don’t want to hurt you or Mom. I hate that this is causing so much pain. But staying here, letting fear hold me back—it feels like I’d be betraying myself."
Richard sighed deeply, pulling her into a gentle hug. Maria pressed her face into his shoulder, finding a small measure of comfort in his embrace.
Richard: "You’re not betraying anyone, Maria. Least of all us. We’re proud of you—more than we probably show. But you have to understand, it’s going to take us time to adjust. Give your mom some space. She’ll come around."
Maria pulled back slightly, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes.
Maria: "What about you, Dad? Are you okay with this?"
Richard hesitated, his gaze drifting to the tools on the workbench before returning to hers.
Richard: "No, I’m not okay with it. I’m going to miss you like crazy. But I know this is something you need to do. And I know you’ll be okay out there because you’re strong, just like your mother. You’ve got her determination and my stubbornness. That’s a pretty good mix."
Maria let out a small, tearful laugh, the heaviness in the room easing just slightly.
Maria: "Stubbornness, huh? Guess I come by it honestly."
Richard chuckled, ruffling her hair like he used to when she was a kid.
Richard: "You sure do. Just promise me one thing, Maria."
Maria: (sniffling) "Anything."
Richard: "Don’t let the world change that part of you. Stay true to yourself, no matter what."
Maria nodded, a small but genuine smile forming on her lips.
Maria: "I promise, Dad."
YOU ARE READING
Ink and Heartstrings
Short Story"Ink & Heartstrings" crafts a compelling narrative of romance and self-discovery within the vibrant world of publishing. The images used are not my own, they have been sourced from various other places.
