These Unique Moments

2. Pictures

I brushed my long brown hair as i looked into the mirror. My face reminded me of dad. We were quit similar. We both have those big eyes and kind of round faces. Dad and i was really close when i was younger. We could play in the snow or at the grass in the summer. Play football or bath in the pool.

And one day... mom said he wouldn't be home in a long time. He had to go away for helping america. Dad said goodbye and leaved in his red car. As i stand there, brokenhearted. I was scared because i trough i wouldn't see him again. I cried and begged mom to call him back. Maybe he wouldn't come home again? Maybe he would crash his car or worse, the plane would crash.

I couldn't live without dad. he was my dad! Mom said she couldn't get him to come home yet. I asked when he was going to come home and she said soon. Just soon like it was burnt into the sentence. Every time she said soon i got more hope. But he never came.

I remember that i sat on the stairs outside the house and looked down the road and hoped to see his red car. But I never saw it. Tears drowned down my face and I could sit there for hours everyday just so see his car. But it never came.

Daniel and i once took all the pictures we had of dad and us and made a book. Mom helped us to attach the pictures in the book and draw decorations and descriptions what the pictures represented. I think dad should have loved it.

And one dad came home. He was standing on the stairs with flowers and presents. I was overwhelmed of happiness when i was him standing there. I cried and hugged him and he was crying too.

He stood up again and looked over to mom. She was crying too. He walked in and gave her the flowers.

"Hey Rebecca" he said

"Hey Sam" she said and he hugged her.

"I missed you" he said

"Me too. I'm missed you, not me" she giggled.

Thats the only thing i remember. It isn't much but its a really strong memory.

I was tired and had headache. It seemed like i wasn't about to meet him this year either. Its just heartbreaking. All my friends have dads that are home everyday but my dad; he wont be home, and hasn't been for eight years. Now I'm sixteen. I feel so old but in some way, still so young. In a weird way, I'm weaker than anyone could ever be or thats what it feels like. Dad was the only one i could be myself with. Im not insecure when I'm with him, i can be myself.

I hasn't been that close to mom. Shes been the most 'girly-girl' in the family. Im more like a boy, i mean enjoy playing outside with Daniel and play video games.

Ive planned to clean my room today but I'm not in mood. My room is quite big. We live in a small house in the centre of the town. Its pretty much just enough for us two. My room is painted in white and i have black furniture. One wall, the Southern; i have few pictures of me and my friends and family and stuff i just took pictures of. All of them is in black and white and there's a little white line on the bottom of every picture where i have writhed what it is and the day i took it. Theres pictures of dad the most. His birthdays and Christmas and the day he got home and pictures of him in his uniform. I spend much time watching the pictures, it makes me both sad and happy to see him.

Mom helped me hang the letters we painted black above the photos on the wall. The letters makes the word 'unique'. Its a strong word and it describes all the moments on the pictures.

My desk is right under the pictures and I have all my pencils, erasers, rulers, brushes and paints. All the things you may need to paint and draw pictures. There are three boxes on the desk; all in black and in size order. In the big lies all the pictures I drew, in the smaller is the pens and drawing things and the little lies pictures I'll put up on the wall.

I like my room. Its convenient and easy. I feel comfortable there. I sat down on my chair and watched the pictures. All flashbacks and memories. All these unique moments.

I felt so alone sometimes like its just me and my mom here. The family isn't whole anymore. We had a hard time back when i was ten. Dad had just arrived in the bass and Daniel was told that he could start at the music school in the Melbourne. Mom was worried about if Daniel could go to Australia alone, he was just sixteen. Anyway, he persuaded mom and now he lives there and have studied to be some kind of person that works with music and artist. He's going to get his first job with a band this autumn. Im proud of him.