"Daddy, can we go on this one?" Rumi asked me as we walked around the amusement park. She was pointing towards a ride that I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be able to get on but I'll take her anyway.
"Are you sure?" I asked, "That's a big kid ride."
She smacked her lips and looked at me, "I am a big kid daddy. Please?"
Of course she's a big girl now. Today was her 5th birthday and all she wanted to do was ride rollercoasters. She has been talking about this day since I told her i would take her.
It's been five years since she was just a little child being held in her mother's arms for the last time. Time really has went by fast and it haven't been easy.
There were times I wanted to give up and not be a father anymore, but how could i do that? I can't just leave her without a father. My dad had done it to me and I'll be damned if I did that to her. She was innocent and didn't ask to be here, so I had to man up and handle my responsibilities.
Hand in hand, Rumi and I walked to the ride she wanted to get on. She had her two best friends from school with her so she really wasn't worried about me.
"There y'all are. We were looking for you." I looked up to see Tae standing there with her now 8 year old son and a couple of his friends. He was such a big boy now and I can't believe I watched him grow. He was Tae's twin.
"I took her to use the restroom, but where's everyone else?"
Tae pointed, "Tanya and your boy Robert is somewhere and I'm not sure where Ty went. Darron is somewhere with his daughters! I think they went on a ride."
"And Beyoncé?"
"I'm right here baby.." I heard her say. I turned to see the most beautiful girl in the world. All I could really do was smile at her like a little kid.
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"Where were you?" I asked, pulling my shorty in for a hug. I kissed her cheek and looked into her beautiful brown eyes.
"I went to one of those food stands and bought a cup of ice."
I laughed, "Cup of ice? Why not water?"
She shrugged, "The ice is colder. Where did Rumi go?"
She finally spotted our daughter, but I kept my eyes on her. I still can't believe how far she had come. Nearly five years ago, she was in a hospital bed fighting for her life.
After the brain surgery, she spent two years recovering. She couldn't walk and talk for so long that I began losing faith, but then she slowly learned. It was like she was a baby again. Now, her walking was much better and so was her talking even though she slurred a couple of words here and there. As long as she was still here with me, I didn't care.
