Daddy Issues

87 - Hi, dad

I was hoping I'd never have to sit in the back of a police car again after that fiasco at the bookstore. And I definitely wasn't expecting to spill the beans on my dad to his colleagues if I ever would be.

'So how come we've never seen you around here before?' the lady cop asked me. 'You don't talk to your dad?'

'Well, no. I mean, I didn't know where he lived after he left us, which made that pretty difficult.'

'And when was that?'

'Like 12 years ago? I was 12.'

'Jeeeesus,' she whistled, shaking her head at the other cop, behind the wheel. 'Richard has a grown ass daughter that he left out in the cold. See, I knew there was something wrong with that guy.'

She asked me a lot of questions and I didn't really hold back on anything. Clearly, nobody at the police station knew about me. Well, keeping his secret is not my problem. Maybe he thought that he could just ignore his past forever but Mom made sure it caught up to him. So now Officer Dane and Officer Vanwood know everything about how and why I ended up here trying to sell expired Xanax to some randos.

They were actually kind of nice, but I'm still not sure what they're going to do with me now. They've brought me to a small room where I've been waiting alone, nearly crashing out from all the anxiety until finally Officer Dane comes back into the room. I sit up straighter and watch her with wide eyes while she takes a seat opposite of me.

'Okay, look, honey,' she says finally. 'What you were doing in the park was very stupid. I get that you were desperate, but that's not an excuse to resort to illegal activities.'

'Oh my God, I know,' I say quickly. 'And I'm so sorry, I-'

I close my mouth when she gives me a look that says she wasn't done talking. Nervously, I wrap my hands together and wait for her to go on.

'Because of your situation, we've decided to let you off with a warning. If you can promise me that you will never try to do something like that again.'

'Of course,' I say, nodding sincerely. 'I promise.'

'Now, we don't want to risk you ending up on the street again with nowhere to go because we're worried that's going to get you into trouble again.'

'No, I'll be fine, I'll figure it out, I just-'

I shut up again when she gives me another one of those stern looks. This woman is not to be messed with.

'We don't want to send you out there without any help, so we informed Richard that you're here.'

A cold chill runs down my spine. My dad knows I'm here. Does that mean he's here right now? For the first time in years we might actually be in the same building.

'What did he say?' I ask softly.

'He wants to see you,' officer Dane says. 'He's right outside. But I wanted to make sure that's alright with you before I let him in.'

He's right here? The room suddenly feels even smaller than it is. Warmer too, yet also cold at the same time.

He's here. I can't believe it. All these years I've missed him even if I was of course so angry with him too. But I couldn't walk up to his house when I was standing in front of it. I don't know if I want to see him now. What's even the point after all this time? There's no relationship anymore. He'll just be some guy I don't know.

But on the other hand, can I really let this opportunity pass? Who knows if I'll ever have another chance to see him. Besides, officer Dane is right. Without him, I'll be back on the street with no way to get home. Practically, he'd be my only chance to get some much needed help.