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"Hey, dad." I said softly as I got into the car. His eyes shifted to mine as he looked in the rearview mirror. “Hey princess, you feeling okay now?" he asked choking back tears. "No," I answered truthfully, starting to cry. "Mom, you have some explaining to do when we get home." We pulled into the driveway, the whole car ride was nothing but awkward silence. I felt myself wanting to say something but couldn't find the right words. We walked into the house and dad and I sat on the couch, mom walked into the office and we heard some rumbling. After a few minutes she walked back out and we saw she was holding a small box. She sat down between my father and I, and sighed heavily. "I hoped this day would never come", she said with tears welling in her eyes. She opened the box and pulled out a photo of a man easily around 18-19 and her, they were standing in front of the movie theatre in town. He had his arms wrapped around her, and she was leaning onto his chest. He was tall, had long light brown hair pulled up into a pony tail, and bright green eyes with yellow flecks, to say he looked like me was an understatement. This man was definitely my father, we could be twins. I looked to my father, he was crying so much, but not making a single sound. My mom dug around the box more and pulled out a photo album of him and her together. "Right before Rickard and I got together I was dating this man." she started. His name is Maxis, he was my first true love. We dated for a while, and we were happy, I gave him everything, all of my love, affection, even my virginity." she said taking a deep breath, sadness tearing through her soul. "One day he just disappeared. I never saw him again. I always wondered what happened to him. About a week later, I started dating your father. We had s*x multiple times, so when I found out I was pregnant I just assumed you were his." She said looking at my father and I. "But after you were born, you looked so much like Maxis, I almost sure that you were Maxis’. I didn't want to even put that out there, I worried he might leave us too. So instead I let him believe you were his and never bothered with a paternity test." She finished sniffling. "Your middle name Juniper is after Maxis' mother, she was very kind to me while we were dating. She had the kindest soul, it only felt right that she should be a small part of her granddaughter. A couple of years ago I heard she was put in a hospital, she was ill. I went to go see her, I couldn't tell her anything, I couldn't bring myself to bring up the question. I did however ask her where I could see Maxis, that I needed closure. She reluctantly gave me his address, and I kept it all this time." She said pulling out a rolled up piece of paper. I grabbed it slowly, and opened it up, it was somewhere in the forest in New Hampshire. I looked at it for a long time before putting it in my pocket. She pulled out a letter, and turned to me. "Give this to him, if you go see him." She said. "It just explains everything, it would be better if he heard it from me." she sighed before getting up and handing me the photo of the two of them. I went to my room without a word and began packing some bags with, clothes, my tooth brush, hair brush, all my toiletries, and the photo and letter. I zipped up my bag, and walked downstairs. My father was still on the couch speechless. "Dad?" I said pulling him from his thoughts. "Where are you going princess?" he asked choking back tears. I set down my duffle back and put a lock on my rolling suitcase. I walked over and sat down on the couch next to him and grabbed his hands. "Dad, I love you, and you'll always be my dad. But I have questions, I need to know who he is, and where he lives, why he left, if he knew he had a kid. I need these questions answered dad." he looked at me pitifully. His eyes brimming with tears that overflowed onto his cheek. "I know sweetie, you need to figure this out. I don't blame your mom for having a child with someone else, but I do blame her for never bothering to tell me." he said still crying. I wiped his tears," You'll always be my dad!" I said hugging him, his large frame engulfed me in a hug. "And you'll always be my little girl!" he said hugging me and kissing my head. I stand grab my bags and walk to the door, grabbing my car keys off the kitchen counter and heading outside. I toss my bags in the trunk, and shut it. Sliding my flower purse with the letter and the picture into the passenger seat, as I jump in the divers seat before calling my friends and explaining everything. "I'm sorry I wont be able to make it to graduation, or come with you guys tomorrow, why don't you guys take Damon's boyfriend with you instead and it can be an even greater experience." I say starting my car. "Yeah sounds great Ash, I'm sorry your birthday kind of got ruined by all of this." said Damon. "Don't worry about us," said Ripley. "Go and find your dad, get your questions answered!" she said. I pulled out of my driveway and tears were flowing down my face. "Thanks guys, I don't know what I'd do without you." I said choking down my tears, trying not to sound too upset. "I love you guys, I'll let you know when I make it there." I said hanging up the phone and turning on the radio. Fear, anxiety, depression, all of these things hit me like aa ton of bricks and tears just kept falling. I drove from my house in Delaware to the forest in New Hampshire. This place was well hidden, and it was already after 6:00pm by the time I got there. I drove for seven and a half hours before finally reaching this huge stone wall. The forest outside of the wall was lush, and green. The sky a deep blue as it was getting dark outside. As I pulled up someone yelled out to me. "Stop!" I hit the breaks and came to a complete halt. I pull out my phone and send a text to my dad and my friends letting them know I’m here. The man walked up to my window. "Who are you, and what are you doing in this territory." I looked up at the man, he had short deep brown hair, and his eyes were also a deep brown. I shook a little for a moment before remembering the photo in my bag. I pulled it out and handed it to him. "I'm looking for this man. I have something I need to confirm with him, it's of the utmost importance." I said sternly not wanting to claim he is my father until I knew for sure. He looked at the photo and his eyes grew wide. He turned away from me and walked over to another guard before walking back and handing me the photo. "How do you know him?" he asked. "I actually can't say for sure until I speak with him. It's kind of a secret between my family." I said hoping his questioning was over. He looked up and his eyes flashed white, they looked like they completely glazed over. He looked back to me. "Very well, I'll take you to him." he said climbing into my passengers seat and signaling the other guards to let us through. As we drove through the gates he pointed to a large stone building. It looked like a castle, it was gigantic, made every other house in the town look incredibly small. The town was large, it had many stores and houses, lots of flower pots, and trees, and street lamps. The lamps letting out a dim glow as it was getting darker out now. As we made it to the front of the castle he pointed me to a parking spot and then got out of the car I grabbed my bag and followed him out. He looked down at me as I got out of the car and snickered. "What?" I asked looking to him completely confused at what was so entertaining. "You're so small!" he said laughing. "I've never seen anyone so tiny, besides maybe children." he laughed. I huffed and crossed my arms throwing my bag over my shoulder making sure the picture and the note were tucked safely inside. "I was a sickly child so I didn't grow much. My height was stunted, and I've been stuck this height since I was 12." I said causing him to look away quickly. "I'm not offended if that's what you think. I'm used to being called short, my nickname in high school was Thumbelina because of my height," I said shaking my head, and thinking back to all of the bullying I received for just being small. That bullying made me tougher, so at least there is that. He led me into the castle, there was a large entry way with a fountain in the middle and staircases on either side of it. The staircases went up to the fourth floor spiraling along the way, there was a branch off on every other floor so you can walk onto those floors as well. He walked with me up to the fourth floor of the building. He pointed to a large wooden door and said," He's in there. Good luck, he's always grumpy now a days." Then he turned and walked back to the stairs, descending them quickly. This was it, I was about to come face to face with my birth father. Though this was a journey I only just started, it was still enough to break my heart. I reached up my fist to the door, panic setting in.
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