Dying Flame (Daniel Skye)

35

"What's this?" I asked my father. "A notebook. A journal if you prefer." He says and we laugh. "What's it for?"

"Your thoughts. Your feelings. Whatever you want to write about. Your language arts teacher called and told me about this great poem you wrote." He explains. "Did she tell you what it was about?" I ask. Please say no. Please say no.

"No." Oh thank god. It's about you, but you can't read my thoughts so you don't know what I'm saying to myself right now. "Okay. Well, thank you." I kiss his cheek and run upstairs. I grab a pencil and stat writing in my new book. I don't write poems. I write songs.

I like to sing to myself. No one has ever heard me sing except Hayes, Emma, and Nash. Hayes is my best friend. Nash is his brother and Emma is my sister. I'm 12 years old and in 7th grade.

My dad makes bad choices. He smokes weed and gets drunk a lot. He'll never get anywhere doing that. I tried to stop him once. Didn't go as planned. If he'd only stop, for the love of a daughter.

I like that. For the love of a daughter. I write it at the top of my paper and smile. Hurtful words just come to mind about him and I start writing.

He's always at work. He started working a lot about 5 years ago. And then after work he goes off to get high or drunk. So I never really see him anymore.

It's been 5 years

Since we've spoken last

And you can't take back

What we never had

I like that. I wrote it down and sigh. I wish he'd just listen. Maybe I can get him to listen or at least pay attention to me.

I have a keyboard in my room. My parents know how much I love music so they got me one for my birthday 2 months ago. I think I know how to make dad listen. This is gonna be sad but fun!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey dad, want to hear this new song I'm writing?" I ask. "Sure baby girl." I set up the keyboard and start to play. I look at him and take a deep breath before I starts to sing.

Four years old

With my back to the door

All I can hear

Was the family war

Your selfish hands

Always expecting more

Am I your child

Or just a charity ward

You have a hallowed out heart

But it's envy in your chest

I try so hard

To fight it

But it's hopeless

Hopeless

Your hopeless

Oh father

Please father

I'd love to leave you alone

But I can't let you go

Oh father

Please father