Song of the White Nightingale

Chapter III | The Return

"My, my what?" Kara started. She looked at Sam, astonished and confused. "How did you, why, how..." Kara started to lose her balance and her head began to feel lightheaded. Her father caught her and helped her regain her stance.

"Look, I know it's a lot to process. I'm sorry I've been gone for so long. I missed you so much." he brought her in again, this time not letting go.

After a moment, he finally did let go. Kara looked around at everyone, lastly at Sam. His hair was a dirty blonde, unlike anyone else in the room. His eyes were a caramel brown. He was dressed semi-formally, with a vest and a well-fitted jacket with matching trousers. He had a warm, maroon-colored scarf around his neck and shoulders. He looked like a kid who graduated at twelve years old and never learned how to dress outside of his school uniform.

"Hi, I'm Sam," he said almost awkwardly as he reached out his hand.

Kara grabbed it and shook it, saying "Kara. Nice to meet you."

Sam let out a deep breath, and Kara got the impression that Sam was nervous to meet her. She figured he was also an only child up until this very moment.

"This is not exactly how I thought you would come back, dad," Kara said, almost like she wanted to be disappointed but the joy of actually seeing her father again overrode it.

"I know, and I'm sorry. I never meant to be gone for long. When I heard about Sam's mother dying, I left to go see what other family he had left before I was going to bring him here, but I got mixed up in some other things," her dad said. Kara was then able to vaguely remember the last time she saw her dad, and how he looked stressed and wouldn't answer any questions her or her mom asked.

"Wait, so you're the reason my dad left?" Kara said angrily, looking at Sam. He gave her a worried and afraid look, one that Kara could not stay angry at for long.

"Joseph, let's move this to the living room. Looks like you've got quite the story to tell," Karen said with her arms crossed.

Kara left her backpack right where she stood, and everyone made their way to the living room. When everyone had sat, Joseph looked around at everyone, seeing their eyes were fixed on him. He realized no one knew the full story, and he took a deep breath before beginning his tale.

"About fifteen years ago, while I was away for work, I met a waitress at the restaurant next to the hotel I was staying at. I didn't think much of it, but after a night of too many drinks, I woke up in someone else's bed. I felt so much regret and shame. I told your mom right when I got back, and I'm thankful she forgave me. I didn't know about your birth, Sam. In fact, I didn't know about you at all until I heard that your mother had died," Joseph said this looking at Sam, as if he had told this story to him before but was retelling it for the sake of his wife and daughter.

"So, I left temporarily to take care of him. He was only five years old and had just lost his mother. After learning I was the only family he had left, I set out to bring him back home. Until the Ministry came after me, hunting me down," he continued.

"What? Why would they go after you? What else did you do?" Kara asked.

"I'll get to that in a second. But anyway, I eventually ended up living with other Unionizer rebels to stay safe, and that's where I've been the last ten years. It wasn't until now that I felt it was safe enough to come home," Joseph said.

"Unionizer? What's that?" Kara asked.

Sam put his hand to his forehead. "She really doesn't know anything?"

"Sam, she was only seven when I left. Her mother is not a Unionizer, and it was solely my responsibility to provide her with the education and training passed down from our ancestors. I neglected to be there for her. And for that, Kara, I'm sorry." Joseph looked at his only daughter with so much remorse Kara could not maintain eye contact.