Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The phone call was one she wasn't looking forward to. She knew she had to answer though or else it would be another five months before she heard his voice again. The voice she barely ever heard before moving to California. The sickening voice of her father.
She didn't know what he was calling for or why since he didn't feel the need to speak to her before she left. He wasn't even home that day. He was too consumed with "work" which is really just a fancy way of saying he was too caught up with his secretary and couldn't be bothered to see his daughter one last time before she goes off to college.
This wasn't new to Justine though. She grew accustom to his selfish ways when she was younger. Her father was barely around and when he was, he was still not there mentally. She stopped having a real relationship with him when she turned eleven.
The pair were attached at the hip before he changed. She was such a daddy's girl. After that, she grew closer to her mom. Her father came around less and it became normal to not see him as often. She began looking up to older brother. He became the father-figure she needed, even when she didn't want it. He took care of her, taught her things, and spent quality time with her. The way her father should've.
She found out later in life that he started doing drugs around that time. He got so consumed with it, he slowly drifted away from his family. He found interests in other women at his job and lost interest in his wife. He even lost interest in his kids, which he never thought he'd do. He loved them with all his heart, but sometimes it isn't enough to just say it. You've got to show it.
"Hello, dad," she answered after letting it go to voicemail three times.
"Hi, Justine. Why do I have to call multiple times before I get an answer from my daughter?" He spoke through the phone.
"I obviously was busy. I am in college, ya know," she said.
"Watch your tone...I'm just calling to apologize for not being able to send you off. You know how work is sometimes," he said, hoping she'd understand.
She didn't care about any lame excuse he had. She knew he could've been there if he wanted to and he wasn't. This apology was bullshit and she knew it. She was just going to let him say his peace, so that she could hang up and not speak to him again until she has to go back to NewYork for the holidays.
"Yeah, I know," she said.
"Okay, good. I'm glad you understand," he said.
"Yep," she said, playing with the ends of her hair.
"So, how's the college life? You make any new friends yet?" He asked her.
