Shattered Glass ⇒ Isaac Lahey (ON HOLD)

02; The Draft

Chapter 2; The Draft
Chapter Song; Come Home - One Republic

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            My dad was finishing placing his pins and medals on his uniform. I sat on his bed holding his hat.

            "I'll be back before you know it." He smiles at me through the mirror.

            I look at him through the mirror, seeing the fake smile on his face. He hates leaving, but he loves the Marines. That doesn't mean he likes the look on my face when he has to go, and I sure as hell don't make it easier for him.

            "Why do you keep going back?" I ask.

            He looks up at me with shocked eyes, turning around and facing me, "I know this is hard on you, and I'm sorry, I go back because I feel-"

            "Responsible to protect the country that gives you freedom. I've heard the speech, Dad." I let out a sigh, "I just thought there was another reason." 

            His eyes saddened as he saw me look down and fidget with his hat. I knew why he would go back all the time. He would never admit it but he can't be at this house for too long, it reminds him too much of Mom. He refuses to sell it for the same reason, which I think is a little ironic. My hands trace the brim of the hat, I wished more that anything he wouldn't leave. If he leaves that means he'll drop me off at my Uncle's house, and if only he knew what happened while he was gone.

            "I don't want you to go." I accidentally say out loud, but I don't regret it.

            My voice came out small and quiet, I'm honestly surprised he heard me. I could tell he did because his face dropped and it dropped fast. He stares at me, waiting for me to take it back. But when I stare at back, he realizes I wasn't going to.

            "Sage." He states in not quite a scolding tone, it was too soft for it to be that.

            He stops there as if he was thinking that'd be enough for me to take it back. But it's not. I would never take it back because I don't want him to go. I don't want him to drop me off at my uncle's house, because he didn't see what happened there when he left. And I hadn't found the courage yet to tell him about that.

After aunt Rita died two years ago, uncle Roy started drinking. He had been prone to fits of rage and aggressive behavior but Rita could always contain him. Now that she's gone my two cousins and I were on our own dealing with an angry drunk 24/7. Dad had no clue and I had no idea how to tell him that his brother-in-law, the only family he has left, is a complete raging alcoholic, who has occasionally abused his daughter.

            I stared back at my dad with a stone cold expression. My father missed my 8th grade graduation. He's missed important milestones. And I viewed the service as the thing that kept stealing my father away and forcing me to live with the abusive drunk. At least I wasn't alone in it. I had my cousins who were more like siblings to me at this point. But in the end the only thing I wanted was something I never got, my father.

"Sage..." He trails off knowing I won't take it back, but also unsure of what to say to me, "I don't know what to say." His eyebrows come together forming stern lines on his forehead, "I'm a bit disappointed."

I could feel my eyes grow watery but I didn't let any tears fall, instead my gaze dropped to the hat currently resting in my hands.

            "In me?" I ask in a broken voice. It cracks throughout the short sentence which just showed how I was currently feeling inside.

            My eyes travel back up to my father who was suddenly standing closer to me. His eyes were softer, and his face softened as well. Everything about him just seemed to droop. This was the hardest goodbye he has ever faced with me. And that's including the time after mom died that I ran after his car screaming that I needed him since mom was gone.

            "I don't think I could ever be disappointed in you, sweetie." He tells me as he  crouched down in front of me, taking my cheek in his hand, "I'm just disappointed that this is how we're saying goodbye." He lets out a sigh, looking down to the hat in my lap before looking back up to me, "I wish there was a perfect answer. I wish it was easier."

            I stared blankly back at him, his words almost held no meaning to me. Because no matter what he said the outcome would always be the same, so nothing he could say could make this easier for me. The only thing that could make it easier is if he didn't have to go. But he does. According to him anyway.

He lets out another sigh, and it almost makes me wonder how many either of us have had so far, "I'm sorry, Sage." He tells me with glossy eyes, "I know this is hard for you."

            I shake my head solemnly, "If you really knew how hard it was, you wouldn't be going. You also wouldn't patronizing me, as if I'm a child." My eyes narrowed as I spoke to him.

            "Sage-" My dad starts, but I interrupt before he could say anything else.

            "I can't do this again." I shake my head, before looking up at him, "Bye Dad." I tell him standing up, setting the hat I was holding on the bed, "Stay safe. See you when you get back, whenever you decide to come back. I'll let you know what monumental milestones you missed this time."

            Before he could say anything else, I walked out of the room. Tears were pouring from my eyes. Maybe I was a bad daughter. Or a bad person. At this point in time I no longer cared. My dad had dedicated countless years to the service, when would it be my turn to have him? Sure I'm probably being selfish, but that's my dad after all. And after letting him go so many times before I broke. Now what happens next is out of my control.

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Hey everyone! It's a really short update I'm sorry I just wanted this one and only scene to be this chapter because I thought it was important. I also thought it should stand alone.

I'm really happy that I updated and I have so much more in store for this book too. I've finally gotten some more inspiration for this book.

I hope you guys liked this update please let me know. Just please comment and vote I love hearing your guys' feedback.

I have to thank melsthealpha for mentioning my book and giving me a shout out. So if you haven't already follow this amazing person and read her book "Violent Creatures". It's one of my favorite teen wolf books, so check it out guys. She's amazing.

•callie•