The Ashley Harms Collection: Circa 2016-2018

Stars.

Prompt: Not quite sure..I think it was to write poetry, but I don't remember, oops!

...

Hi Daddy.

Mommy says you're going to be back soon.

She says you're protecting us by leaving.

Where are you going, Daddy?

She says we must keep you in our prayers.

What is a prayer, Daddy?

At night, I watch the stars.

Do you watch them, too?

It's been six months, Daddy.

Grandma came to stay with us for awhile.

She tucks me in at night.

She plays with me, like you used to.

I wish Mommy would play with me.

She stays in her bedroom a lot.

Why is she doing that, Daddy?

School is starting soon.

Grandma is helping me with my ABCs.

I hope I'm as smart as you.

I miss you, Daddy.

Do you miss me, too?

School is going great, Daddy.

I've made lots of friends.

My teacher is very nice.

Sometimes she looks at me with a sad smile.

It reminds me of how Mommy looks, too.

I miss her, Daddy.

She won't even talk to me anymore.

Grandma yells at her a lot.

Mommy yells back.

Make them stop, Daddy.

They told me to write about my hero in class.

I wrote about you.

Who is your hero, Daddy?

Something bad happened, Daddy.

Mommy got a phone call.

She hasn't stopped crying since.

She hugged me for the first time since you left.

Why did it feel weird, Daddy?

Grandma was crying, too.

It made me feel sad inside

I don't like this feeling.

I'm still waiting for you, Daddy.

What are you waiting for?

Mommy dressed me in black today, Daddy.

She still hasn't smiled.

She says we're going to visit someone.

I hope it's Grandpa.

I like his smell

It's like peanuts.

I wish we could go visit you, Daddy.

There's a picture on my nightstand of you.

Do you have a picture of me, too?

There's a lot of people here, Daddy.

Mommy made us sit near the front with Grandma.

Why do all these people look the same?

They're wearing uniforms with shiny buttons.

I want to touch one.

What is that box in front of me, Daddy?

Why does it have the flag on it?

Mommy won't answer my questions.

She doesn't stop crying.

They lower the box into the ground.

What's inside the box, Daddy?

The man in charge talks about you.

It makes me sad.

They lead us in prayer.

I still don't know what a prayer is, Daddy.

I miss you, Daddy.

I wish upon the stars for you to come home.

Do you wish upon them, too?