I've been Challenged Once, Given Coffee Twice

A Good Night Kiss that Never Came

I smelled dad's cologne and I smiled to the most pleasant dreams ever. Every night he kissed us goodnight, telling us how much he loved us. My eyes still closed I felt the subtle movement on the bed and waited for his blessing, a fatherly kiss on the forehead. A kiss that never came.

I opened my eyes amidst darkness, enough light to see his face angrily staring down at me, every time closer, terrifying like never before. His hands around my neck choking me. I tried to push him back, but daddy was stronger, determined. Gripping tighter, tighter... tighter.

There was no one else, nobody to help me. He was daddy!

Why? Please! Don't! I can't breathe! What Did I do wrong? I've got good grades! I behaved well! I love you Dad!

I kicked and pushed and fought, until there were no strengths left. My sight blurred... Dad's face vanishing away with his furious eyes.

My body, light like a feather floated. I felt no pain, no fear, only peace. Everything was clear in front of me, not even darkness bothered me.

Daddy walked out my room, wiping his tears off. I followed him to my sisters' room and watched... watched how he did to them what he did to me. I tried to stop him, to scream, to ask for help... but it was in vain. My little sisters floated next to me. The three of us looking at each other, wondering why.

Daddy stared down at his shaking hands. He cried. Oh yes he cried a lot. Crestfallen he dragged his own feet out the house, to the backyard. There was a rope, looped, hanging from our favorite tree, the one he started building a treehouse for us to play. Dad climbed a stair, the loop around his neck and let himself go.

He didn't fight like I did to breathe. It all ended soon and daddy's lifeless body oscillated. My sisters and I waited, but his soul never showed up.

Sun peeped that morning over the green hills, its golden rays inviting us. It was time to go to a better place now.

I really needed to write this. This morning my beautiful island woke up to the most dreadful news. A father had killed his children, suffocated to then place them one next to the other on a bed. Then he committed suicide in his backyard.

Where are values? Where's the family love? What can take a father to kill his own children? It's something I can't conceive! Where's hope? Why little children? Where was God to save them?

Questions that might never find an answer.

Faces we see, hearts we don't know.

I only pray for the poor children's soul.