Little Tricia

10-year-old Tricia longs to see her mom again.
They have been separated since when she was five.
She didn't understand what happened between her parents, all she knew was that her mom left a letter for her.
Was she ever going to see her again? She waited for days and weeks but her mom never returned.
The first year passed by yet her mom was nowhere to be found.
Tricia couldn't wait anymore, she was sad and worried.
Her dad wasn't saying anything to her either and she didn't wanna bother him as he already looked stressed out.

In school one day, the other kids were talking about their parents, most of them shared what their mom does for them, how they comb their hair, and set them up for school. How their moms fix their breakfast and even package their lunch.
Tricia was the only girl that wasn't saying anything because of course her mom was nowhere to be found.
Because of the incident in school, Tricia summed up the courage to ask her dad about her mom after a year.
She believed it was long enough for her to return.

Daddy? I have been wanting to ask you something, Tricia said over dinner.
What is it, my dear? Is there a problem?
Tricia started counting and calculating time on how to say it.
Dad! When is mom coming back?
..coughs..the food Mr. Jackson was eating choked him.
I am so sorry dad, here have a glass of water.
She handed the glass of water to her dad.
He grabbed both hands and gulped it down his throat.
He was also calculating how he will tell Tricia.
How would he tell her that her mother is not gonna come back ever again?
How will he tell her that the deadly disease stole Mrs. Patricia from them?
How will he tell a 10-year-old girl that death placed his cold hands on their beloved?

Tricia my dear, you see your mom....
Our beloved Patricia has gone to visit the Almighty. No, actually she has gone to be with him.
And someday we will also go there. We will visit the Almighty too and we will all be together once again Tricia.
What does that mean dad? And where is the Almighty?
Tricia knew what her dad meant because it's not the first time she is hearing about God.
But she wanted to doubt what her dad said.
She didn't want to believe that her mom is really gone for good.
Why wasn't she told? Why did her dad keep it from her for the past months?
Why was it written in the letter given to her that her mom traveled?
So dad you mean that mom is dead?
I am sorry to say Yes she is my darling

Tricia reacted to the news very calmly to the surprise of her dad.
But after dinner, she soaked her pillow.
Why did her mom leave her behind was the question she kept asking herself?
Why did death have to take her away at the very point she needed a mother most?
She kept crying and sobbing that night until the next morning.
She didn't want to go to school the next morning and Mr. Jackson knew why so he didn't bother her.
He woke up early and prepared breakfast, her favorite dish.
He left a small note with the breakfast on the dining table and left for work but before leaving, he knocked on her door to tell her he was leaving.

He knew Tricia was sad and wouldn't want to talk to him at the moment or even let him in so the least he could do was to tell her he was leaving for work which was the right thing to do.
Me. Jackson was very disturbed even at work. He wondered how Tricia was doing back at home.
He left work earlier than normal just so that he can check up on his daughter and stayed with her.
He was all she had left and he needed to stay with her and prove to her that he will always be available for her even when he can't fill the void or vacuum her mom left in her heart.

He got home only to realize that Tricia didn't take a bite from the food he left behind.
Her door was still locked. Mr.Jackson knocked on Tricia's door but there was no response just continuous and gentle sobs.
Jackson couldn't believe his daughter has been crying since morning when he left for work till his return.
He couldn't wait any longer so he pulled down the door, entered Tricia's room, and saw her daughter on the floor still sobbing and looking pale.
He was so frightened, he rushed and picked her up onto her bed, covered her up with her big blankets, and rushed out to get some drugs for her.
He apologized to her on his return.
He was sorry for keeping the truth from her daughter for the past year.
He promised never to keep the truth concerning his life and family again from her daughter.
He finally accepted that Tricia was old enough to know what was going on in his life and their family entirely.
He apologized to his daughter again, Tricia looked at her dad keenly.
She knew her mom wasn't coming back and staying mad at her dad wasn't going to do her any good so she forgave him and embrace him.

The End...

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@zellypearl