Breaking Emily

Measure 4

~ Measure 4 ~

 

   “Michael…?”

   I heard something shatter in the background.  Mom had dropped the dinner plate, food splattering all over the hallway.  I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.

   “Audrey,” he said, “It’s so good to see you.”

   She shook her head as she whispered, “You’ve got so much explaining to do…”

   Her eyes were brimming with tears as she added, “But not to me.  To Emily.”

   She walked back in to the kitchen and left me standing in the doorway with my Dad.

   “May I come in?” he asked quietly. 

   “I… I…” I whispered, blinking a few times to make sure this wasn’t a dream.

   I took a deep breath and stood up straight, stepping out of the way.

   “I mean come in.” I said.

   He stepped into the house and I shut the door behind him, leading him to the living room where he sat down on the couch.  Mom was behind us, cleaning up the mess in the hallway.

   “Look at you…” he began, “You’re so beautiful.”

   “Thank you.” I said.

   “And smart, I imagine.  You always have been.”

   “How would you know?” I snapped, “Sure, I may have been bright as kid, but for all you know, I could’ve lost ninety percent of my freaking brain cells in the past year.  Maybe I’m as dumb as box of rocks now, you don’t know that!”

   He took a deep breath as his smile faded.

   “I know you’re upset, Emily, but you need to hear me out.” he said gently.

   “Oh, I need to ‘hear you out’?” I said, “Just like how you really ‘heard me out’ when I was six and begging you not to go…”

   “That’s different.”

   “I don’t think it is, Dad.  Or should I even call you that?”

   “Emily Faith, I’m still your father.”

   “No,” I whispered, my eyes brimming with tears, “You never have been.  You left just when the opportunity was rising for you to really be the father that any girl deserves.  You chose your slut over us.”