Zayn
"Today would've been the missing baby Lisa's 15th birthday. Over the years the family of Lisa Sumner, have been on a nationwide search. Sadly, in court today, they've ruled this case as most likely the death of a child. However the police crews are still on the look out. The family still asks for your support."
Fifteen. It's been fifteen years. Fifteen years of them not having a child. Fifteen years of me being a single father. Everyday I become more thankful for having Alyssa in my life. On the other hand for the parents of the missing baby, I feel bad. Not too bad though.
"Hey dad?" Alyssa says and runs down the hall. "Yes, sweetheart." I say and stand up. "I think I want to go to a public school now. Trust me I love homeschool and being with you all day long," she pauses and tries to fib. Its okay. Every teen is like that. I was like that. I kind of expected it to come. "I think it's time for me to make friends, maybe meet a boy, join a sport, a fine art. How else am I supposed to get to college?" She continues her speech.
I love the idea of Alyssa meeting new friends, joining a fine art, and/ or joining a sport. But no boys. At all. Whatsoever. The only thing is, I haven't told her that I found her. She still thinks I'm her birth father. I know I've had all these years to tell her, but I felt like the younger she was, the more sensitive she would've been. I didn't want to hurt her at such a young age.
"I looked it up, all I need for you to enroll me in school is: a health form, a registration form, we need to go to the board of education, I also need a drivers permit, And lastly, my birth certificate." Birth certificate. The one thing I don't have that's very vital to her. God Zayn, why didn't you think this through when she came into your life fifteen years ago? I scold myself
Because she isn't yours
The words burn in the back of my head. The words I despise the most. The words that have been stuck in my head for the past fifteen years and haunted me. "Dad?" She asks and I zone back into reality. "I got you a birthday present." I interrupt her and try to change the subject. I walk down the hall and open the closet door. A small box with a bow onto rests in my hands.
"Oh my gosh, dad. Thank you!" She hugs my neck and kisses my cheek. "Happy birthday sweetheart." I say and smile at her. "Well what are you waiting for? Open it!" I say and rush her. She opens the box and her eyes widen. "A phone, my first phone!" She jumps up and down. Sure it's a bit late for her to have her own phone at fifteen. I just didn't want to risk anything.
"You like it?" I ask and she nods. "Thank you thank you thank you." She repeats herself and giggles. "I love you so much." She says and hugs me tightly. "And, we'll think about public school. Not for sure, but maybe." I say. "Dad, are you serious!?" She asks in shock. I nod and smile. "This is the best birthday ever!" She yells and runs to her room.
Shit. I've got a lot on my hands now. I pull out my phone and call my friend Anthony. "Hey Anthony, I need you to do me a favor?" I ask him. "Yeah, man what is it?" He asks. I've known Anthony for years. I also know how sneaky he is and how quick he can get away with things. "I need you to make me a fake birth certificate." I plead and my heart races.
"Why did you lose yours?" Her asks.
"No."
"Then what's it for?"
I go outside so Alyssa won't be able to hear my further conversations. "It's for Alyssa?" I say. I hear the tone of confusion leave his voice. "Why, she's your kid, you should have her actual certificate." "Well that's just the problem, Anthony, she's not mine." I huff. "Then how'd you find her?" He asks rhetorically. "Let's just say I found her today fifteen years ago."
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"So dad, am I going to public school?" Alyssa asks me. I pull the fork from my mouth as she interrupted my eating. "Alyssa, I said maybe." She just nods quietly and texts on her new phone. "Who you talking you?" I ask curiously. "My internet friend." She says and puts down her phone.
I gulp my food and nearly choke. "Internet friend?" I ask again in reassurance. Alyssa nods and smiles. "Yeah, her name is Melissa and she's so nice." I immediately take the phone out of her hand and delete Melissa's contact. "Dad?!" Alyssa asks in shock.
"Alyssa. You don't know who these people are. They could be pedophiles. They could hurt you. They could kidnap you and take you from me." I ramble on about the dangers. "Dad, it's really her-" she tries to state her claim but I just won't have it. "Alyssa, enough. I'll give you your phone later." I say sternly. "Dad why don't you trust me?" She asks
It's not that I don't trust her it's that I don't trust others nor myself.
