The prodigal Father had been returned home.

What was the role of the father in the family? Is the father shall be the one that protects the home and the persons inside? Or shall be the one who will break it apart?. What was the thing that the father needed to give his child’s? Or the children who shall provide to his father? This is a question I wanted to ask for so long. For it was that long I don’t really know how to handle it anymore.

I heard a familiar voice going inside where I was. I want to hide for them not to recognize me anymore. I covered my face with the newspaper so they won’t notice my existence. The day was fill my lips when I heard the voice of their waves of laughter, three familiar voices indeed are inside the café just behind me.

I heard the voice of the girl laughing when the boy did the joke. I don’t hear much about the word that made her laugh but I was happy to hear the laughter of my daughter.

The days were so aged. It was a long time ago when we talked nor saw me. I see her but she never knows I am viewing things the thing she has seen in her eyes. I was there at her special event but I wasn’t that special anymore.

The wait is she will recognize me in my look? A messy hair and widely grown beard and some looked like trash from neighbours houses? Surely not.

I just sit in my position, not drinking my coffee and the small slice of bread for the waiter won't come and say I need to leave like she did last time. I wanted to at least hear those touches of laughter and the stories if ever what will be the good news, at least I could be reminded what shall be done and where will be that event.

It's coming, I heard their mother asking what was the good news and she was like excited for she was asking it so many times. She hasn’t changed after all. The naughtiness and how excited she is, remind me of the night before our wedding. She was so excited that she can't even sleep, talking too much and thinking what will happen the next day. It reminds me the yesterday, the picture I was looking for so long.

I heard my daughter from the other side saying could she wait. I laughed but just low for they won't hear me. Then the bell from the opening the door of café was rung, my daughter immediately come to the guy smiling.

A good and decent looking man, they hugs each other and I was surprised when she looked at me. So I immediately cover my face. I wasn’t here, I must not be here after all. I know what will happen if they will see me, I could destroy the event nor I could be the reason for their un excite event. I must be just gone forever as I did a long time ago.

The girl was that chasing me at that time was now a fully grown woman, yet I leave her at her six years old. Again the past is killing me, like every night I could hear and repeatedly hear the crying girl who wanted to chase at me.

I never looked at her the time I choose to leave. I never say any words, the goodbye and at least saying I love them. I never did that for I know I was just a distraction, for I know I won't be the person who will give them the future they want, I was the coward father and home wreaker for I chose to leave and kill them with tears.

It takes me time to recover and think about the bad thing I did, yet It was too late. I can not just come back as their prodigal father. I wasn’t just entering the world whom once I broke and I was the one that exile myself. I will never be the cause again.

The newspaper in my hand was wet with teardrops while longing for the memories.

I heard the man introducing himself. He says his name. They are closed with each other as I could hear them closely and how comfortable they are.

We will be getting married, that is what I heard again. I don’t hear any more reactions for I was frozen in my sitting position.

My daughter is getting married now, the girl whom I was abandoned. I was the one who will accompany her in the aisle. I can't do anything but just dreamed that she was holding my arms during the wedding.

Its been a long time ago that I told myself that I don’t have any more role in their life.

You should come to our wedding too. That’s the conversation I heard. But something is weird.

The voice felt close to me, I gradually fold down the newspaper and I see her in my eyes.

“I know you, you should come to my wedding. I know that every day you are here so we made this for you. We want you to be there and I wanted you to come back. What happened can't be changed but you been changed, it's enough for me and for us.”

_end

What you think about my short fiction story? Is really prodigal father could be given a chance? Thanks for reading...