Dear Daddy

Dear Daddy,

Remember back when I was five?

Oh boy, back then were my dreams sky high.

Do you remember that June,

when you told me you loved me

but you had to go

so you would see me soon?

I’m almost eighteen now and my,

the time has just flown by and by.

It’s been almost twelve years since then

and I keep wondering

When...when...when.

When would you be the daddy of every girls dreams?

You never showed up for birthdays,

but there was always hope in my heart that you might.

I never got to ride on your shoulders

but I can tell you,

the times got much colder.

I never held your hand

or got kissed by you goodnight.

You never read me Cinderella before bed

or even turned on my night light.

You missed every single soccer game

and every goal I scored,

every basket I made,

every time I made the board.

You were never there to wipe my eyes,

When the mean boys would tell me they loved me,

Oh, how those were lies.

I get straight A’s now

And I am the top of my class,

but you wouldn't know how.

When it was time for me to learn to drive,

I wish you taught me,

since you never saw me ride my bike.

I wish I had the daddy that all my friends had,

saying that to people sometimes makes them laugh.

Mommy used to cry at night,

not much of a childhood;

all I remember you both fight.

It broke my heart into millions,

but now I don't even know you,

this breaks me into billions.

I heard that husbands were supposed to love their wife,

other than seeing people on the streets,

I haven't seen love in my life.

Did I mess up, dad?

If so, I'm sorry,

but was it really that bad?

I'm sorry if any of this is my fault,

but twelve years have gone by,

since then my life hasn't stalled.

Thanks for the memories that aren't even there,

I just really wish you were around more to care.

I wish I could’ve been your little girl

and I wish you could show me just a piece of your world.

But “sorry” isn’t enough.

And coming to terms with that,

Boy, it was tough.

-The young woman who could have been your little girl