love, dad

v a l e n t i n e

"Honey, have a nice day at school," my mom tells me as I walk out the door.

Two warm smiles, mine and mother's, are exchanged. I step on the sidewalk and my mom's voice takes over my ears. "Don't be late!"

I grumble and shake my head. There's no way I can be late, it's only 7:20. I can catch the bus on time, I think and hold my arm up so I can check my watch.

It reads 7:45. I tap the glass, hoping that it's wrong. The hands don't move. "Shoot," I mumble to myself. I look behind me and see the bus.

At least I can take the bus.

And, not stopping, the vehicle whirrs right past me. It splashes me with dirt-covered snow.

I sigh and grit my teeth. "This day can't get any better. Love it."

That morning was uneventful. I don't seem like one to do this--but--I ditched.

If I went through the office, my presence would be known and they'd suspend me for ditching.

I decided to go through the back window. I slid in, put my backpack in my locker, and grabbed my skateboard. I left before first period ended.

Down the alleyway I went. Since today was Valentine's Day, I just had to run into Chance Kenderson. He was waiting out back for me. For some reason, he knew about how I ditch school every Valentine's Day.

I tried to doge him, but he pulled me off my board and pinned me to the wall. "What do you want?" I asked, slowly thrashing myself back and forth between his arms to get away.

"What?" He cooed, "can't I tell my girlfriend I love her?"

"I'm not your girlfriend."

"Keep denying that, princess. Everyone knows you have a crush on me like all the other girls do."

He leaned in, and nibbled on my lower neck. I bit my lip to stop myself from crying out, but I couldn't help it. "C-chase..." I yelled. "Stop it..."

"You like it, don't cha?" He smiled, playing with the hem of my shirt so he could pull it down.

It annoyed me, how he'd try to get me to court with him.

"No, I don't!" I thrashed out, slapping him. He stumbled back, and I used that time to escape.

I grabbed my board, which had rolled into a ditch when Chase pulled me off of it. Instead of riding my skateboard away, I just ran.

"Hey, come back!" Chase called. I looked over my shoulder, but he wasn't running after me. I still didn't trust him, so I still ran home.

At the house, I knew mother wasn't home and she was at work. Tucking the skateboard under my arm, I fished the house key out of my pocket.

When I unlocked the door and got inside the house, I was sad. My dad wasn't here, I ran into Chase (that's a problem on its own), and I feel sick. So, since it was the day, I went and got a card. I didn't care what my mother said.

I ran up to my room and plopped on my bed. I opened the envelope, the letter slipping out easily. The first sentence of the letter wasn't as easy to read. Almost impossible to believe he had written it. I wouldn't have believed it if it didn't have his unmistakeable signature at the bottom.

"How is life without me?" It read.

I shook my head, laughing the words off. It was a trick of my mind. I blinked, but it was still there. I even shook the letter itself. Still there.

I figured it'd be gone tomorrow, so I read the rest.

Dear Zoe,

How is life without me?

I knew you'd open this before everyone else, so, I dedicate this letter to you.

It's okay, just keep fighting Chase. Eventually he'll give up. That alley must haunt you now.

Oh, and I love you. Skipping school was a good choice today. No teacher took attendance, so it wouldn't matter if you didn't show up.

Love, Dad (AKA your dead father)

I was lost for words. He couldn't know anything. It was just a lucky guess.

A lucky guess, I repeat to myself.

Oh, it wasn't a lucky guess.

He's alive.

Or I'm just delusional but idk.