In The Sky

“A girl like her Niall” he says, exasperation clear in his voice, his eyes blazing with anger. Looking up at him, I’m puzzled as our conversation seems to only be taking a turn for the worse. “A girl like how dad? I say, the agitation I felt earlier resurfacing. “Read between the lines Niall, a girl who’s of color.” His voice, low but harsh stings as he looks at me his cheeks taking on a pink tinge from anger rather than embarrassment. I’m stunned. Silence overtakes the kitchen as I meet my father’s eyes, his baby blues like mine are no longer inviting like my own, but rather hard and cold. “What? You don’t like her, because of her skin color?” I ask, my voice, scratchy as, for the first time since being back home I take a long look at my dad and for the first time in my life I see a completely different man, far from the loving and hardworking one I’ve always known.