You are all I've got, Damien.

Chapter 5: First touch

It's been four weeks since I last heard from Damien when he was transferred to another prison. The fact that I didn't hear from him for so long was evident to me that they found his phone, and now we had no way to communicate. I wished he left me his lawyer's number or at least name. I didn't even know where they transferred him. I had nothing, and the unknown was killing me.

I called few jails around the area, but they couldn't tell me anything as I wasn't a relative, it was so frustrating. I started to feel so hopeless.

I spent every day working from home, barely leaving my house. Shaun moved with me temporarily after selling the house he shared with Olivia. He was my company every evening, mostly playing video games or watching horror movies eating the most unhealthy food possible.

I couldn't speak to Gemma, we didn't talk since she walked out of my house that day, I missed her. Every day I've been thinking about what she said, and every day I believed more and more that she could be right.

Is it possible I am making the same mistake again? Am I ready for this? To hold his hand until he is ready? Am I strong enough to support him emotionally being so unstable and fragile myself? All those questions were flying in my head every day. I knew that there is only one person in this world who could help me understand... my father.

I was on my way to my parent's house.  I decided to talk to my dad, he's been back from his deployment for a week now, we welcomed him back as always on the day of his arrival. This time he came back with good news, he asked to be moved, and from now on, he will be working stationary, training new soldiers—no more deployments. He decided that he is not fit enough anymore o continue, and he wanted to spend more time with the family. My mum was over the moon, I didn't see her so happy for years, she could finally have her husband every day.

I parked my car on the driveway, took out my dad's favourites cookies I made last night, and lilies for my mum.

Before I managed to get to the door, I saw it opening.

' Here, she is my sweet muffin!' My dad smiled from ear to ear, he looked so adorable—this big chunk of a man filling the whole door with his covered in tattoos muscles. Usually looking so scary and rough, but standing there with his smile like a little baby, just melted my heart.

' Morning, daddy! I have cookies for you. I'm sure you missed my baking' I smiled and hugged him. His strong arm covered me entirely ' Gosh, you are getting bigger and bigger' I laughed

' Come on, get in! Mum already made tea.' He said, still holding me. ' Alicia, look what found outside the door, she has cookies, so I let her in' He laughed pinching my cheek ' You look beautiful sweetheart ' he said quietly pulling me to another hug.

I loved my dad so much, even tho deep down I hated him for leaving us every time, not being with us every day but loved him for his golden heart, nobody could deny he loved his family and cared for us as much as he could. I was happy for having him back, for good this time I missed him.

'Richard, you better help me with this, is too heavy' My mum shouted from the living room, she was pushing her old piano from the middle of the room but didn't move a millimetre.

' Look at you little bird, trying to play a strong woman' My dad laughed and walked to her, he picked her up in the air and moved aside

'Not funny Richard, not funny.' She said with half-smile.

'Are you moving your piano? It's been in the living room for years' I said surprised

'Your dad bought me a new one, we are moving this one to the garage, is worth a lot I'm not getting rid of it ' She said looking at my dad pushing the piano with zero effort.