As the keys turned and the door opened, the little girl rushed inside. It was cold out, and the house felt warm.
“I’ll get you some warm water, why don’t you freshen up until then?” The little girl nodded as she removed her small black coat.
“The room to the left, upstairs” I said. I pulled the chair and put down my bag. Turning on the stove to warm some water, my mind was chaotic. The day had been traumatic. I wiped my tears thinking about the little girl and her father.
“Where’s the towel?” the girl called out to me.
“In the second drawer dear” I replied. After a few moments, she came rushing down the stairs and sat on the sofa. I looked at her, her face and eyes were red. She had cried. Giving her the glass of warm water, I gathered up all my courage and spoke to her.
“It is okay. He will be alright. You’ll meet him soon! Just a few days” I knew I was lying. Betraying the little girl who was everything to me now.
“Adriana, I know it is traumatizing. Sad. I know you are missing him but he promised to return back soon. Didn’t he?” the little girl nodded.
“Miss Jane, do you believe him? Do you believe that he would return?” I froze as the little girl put away the glass. She stood up, her eyes filled with tears and turned to leave the room. I had no answer to her innocence. She knew the truth. She turned for one last time and said ” I know he won’t. He said goodbye. He never says a goodbye. I hope he returns. I can only hope” she erupted crying and rushed upstairs.
I was petrified. Tears flowed down my cheeks. I closed my eyes and travelled into the past. The moment when his father said the last goodbye.
“Hey!!!” shouted a man. I turned and saw him running towards me, his daughter tightly held in his arms. As he came closer, I saw blood oozing out of his left arm.
“Are you okay?” I asked offering him some water. He refused and instantly bent down low on his knees.
“Will you save my daughter? I am entitled to stay in the country. I have to fight the war and protect my country. She has no one else and I can’t keep her here with me. I can’t let her be with me. Please help us! Protect the girl for humanity. I would forever be grateful. Please” he pleaded. He was sweating profusely, his eyes red and swollen. I was traumatized. I glanced at the girl with blue eyes, smiled and turned to the man and said ” I promise to protect her forever. I would do whatever it takes to keep her safe. I promise” I looked into his deep eyes and assured him of the truth of my promise. He smiled faintly and turned to his daughter.
“Adrianna, she is a known friend of mine. You will be with her until I return alright? She is good and will keep you warm and safe.”
“Father don’t leave me. I want to stay with you!”
“Just a few days. You are a brave girl. You know that right?” the girl nodded. The man got up, kissed his daughter and turned and walked away. I was frozen. The girl came closer and grabbed my hand. I looked down at the deep innocent eyes that were holding tears of separation and smiled at her. She faintly smiled back. The man turned and looked at his daughter for one last time.
“Goodbye” he shouted across the street.
I opened my eyes. Why? I questioned the god and the universe. A father had to let go off his daughter. A daughter had to live without her father. All for a war? I knew that the chances are bleak that he would return. Like thousands others, he would perish in the war. He trusted a strange woman. I had to protect this brave daughter of the bravest man I had met. From the moment he said goodbye, I had been wondering what lied within him that made him so strong. How difficult it would have been to say the last goodbye to your child. Their lives would never be ordinary. These 2 souls that I met today are extraordinary. Their lives are traumatizing. Freezing my breath every time I think about them. I hope he is safe. I pray that a few days later he would come rushing down the streets and embrace his daughter. May god give all the strength to him and to the little girl. I hope the goodbye wasn’t the last goodbye. What would her life be like tomorrow? What would her memories be I wonder. But whatever happens, I promise to protect the girl. Protect her like a daughter of my own and sacrifice whatever it takes for her. Adrianna, I bow at you and at the courageous soul of your father.