Why is life so hard?

Hi. My name is Ashley and I am in the 8th grade. My dad left me when I was 7. He told me that he loved me and that he would be back. It is now 7 years later and he has missed every birthday, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Halloween. He hasn't called, visited, or even sent me a letter. My mom says that he had to leave because a lot of people need him. She said he would be back soon but she has been saying that for the past 7 years. I gave up on him a long time ago. But then again, I won't lie, a piece of me still waits for him every day of my life.