Accepting [COMPLETED]

Accepting

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The metal detectors went off signaling that there was something on me. I stepped back into the lobby and looked at the officer.

"Do you have a belt on?" he asked. I shook my head and lifted my shirt a bit so he could see. "What about your watch?" I shrugged and removed my watch to set it on a small plastic chair beside the metal detectors. I walked back through the machine and yet again the noise went off.

"Try your shoes, hon" an older woman sitting in the lobby's metal waiting chair spoke. I smiled at her and looked at my flats. A pair of ugly things with metallic pins stuck on the front as decorations that my mother suggested I should get. I listened to her, but only because they were comfortable.

I took them off, and sure enough I was cleared to go through.

Walking down the long bricked-in corridor left me feeling restricted. And reaching the small stall with a chair and window made me feel cold. I waited for a moment and looked at the door on the other side of the glass. My father would walk through that door with a huge smile and lots of things to say. I would smile back, my heart would ache and feel heavy, and I would ignore it to make him feel happy to see me.

And when the door opened there he was. His hair now long enough to frame his face and his eyes bright; hopeful. I smiled at him and and sat in front of the small window. The metal wired box beneath the window let us speak to each other.

"Hey beautiful." He touched the glass with his hand flat.

"Hi Dad." I brought up my hand to reach his wishing that I could feel the warmth of his palm beneath it.

"I got your drawing in the mail today." He dug into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "These flowers are beautiful darling." He touched the petals I had carefully sketched and blended. I had seen a beautiful pair of pink tulips in the park on my way home a while before and I wanted to share them with him. I could have taken a picture, but it wouldn't have been the same.

"I know you like flowers. I'm sorry I haven't drawn any roses for you. But I will-"

"These are perfect, Lilian." He placed the paper down in front of him and stared at them for a few seconds in silence. Then he asked, "How's your mom?"

I should say that at home without him things look like they're falling apart. I should tell him that she's been having to work more just to cover the rent and to make sure that we have what we need. He should know that she cries all the time because she misses him, but is too afraid to come and see him because she doesn't know what it will do to her. He deserves to know that I've had to step up to look after her. That all she says is she wouldn't know what to do if I weren't there. And that even if I try to help, it never seems to be enough. He deserves to know that we are miserable without the man that held our family together. But it would break him.

"She's good. Doing some overtime today, is all."

"I miss her." His eyes gloss over and he looks away.

"We miss you, Dad."

He nods his head 3 times and looks down again. For a moment I fear he will cry and I wont know what to say. I've never been good at comforting him. Usually it's him healing my heart of wounds caused by teenage ridiculousness. But what do you say to a man that's going through something so rough and unimaginable if you have no clue what it's like? Words aren't what he needs. Heck, he needs a hug. And I need one too. He needs to be held and told everything will be fine. But in all truth, I don't know if anything will be.

"Lilian, everything is happening for a reason. This is gonna pass soon and I'll be home again with you." He tapped the glass twice and gave me that "you'll see" look.