Imperfectly enough

Disappointed

I was in so much pain and I felt like I would collapse. But I kept telling myself  there was light at the end of the tunnel.

I reached a fancy looking neighborhood,where there were two story houses with a front yard,driveway,neatly and clean kept lawns and a white fence. Even if some houses weren't two story, they were big houses and children were playing on the lawns at some houses, some parents playing with them and some been watched by who I could assume were their nannies. I got weird looks from some and curious looks from others. I'm sure everything about me looked out of place and my dragging of my tired feet made me look as though I was drunk.

I reached my destination and looked at the house in front of me. I pictured a happy family living in this house, parents playing with their children. I took a deep breath and made the final steps to the house. I rang the doorbell and waited.

I could hear footsteps on the other side  of the door. It opened and a boy a few years younger stood there looking at me.

"Yes?" He said while looking at me up and down.

" Is Kenneth here?" I said weakly.

He just went in without answering me. I stood there looking lost and trying to think if I should leave or not.

I started to hear shouting from the inside.

"Kenneth, I told you I don't want that girl near me and my children! She's as evil as her mother!"

"Calm down and stop shouting." He tried to whisper but I heard what he said. What he said next shattered my soul. " I will get rid of her."

I turned around and began walking away. I reached the gate when I heard someone walk out.

" Lisa! Lisa wait!"

I stopped and turned around. I saw a girl by the balcony, the same age as the boy looking at me.  I tried to study her for a moment but I felt like I just needed to sleep now.

I looked at the man before me. The one man I never thought would never break my heart. One who shouldn't harm me. One man meant to keep me safe for life. Today, I looked at him with disappointment.

"What are you doing here? I thought we agreed to meet elsewhere."

I gave him a dry laugh. " Meet where? Have you ever shown up when we make plans? Have you?"  I looked at him with tears falling. "What did I do to you,dad? Is you loving me too much to ask? Am I not your daughter too? Your first child, dad?"

"Lisa, you know the situation..."

" The only situation I see is you are a coward.  I heard everything your wife just said and I will leave and never come looking for you. When I needed you, you were never there. I don't know why I thought this time would be different."

I turned around and started walking away. He tried to touch me and I pulled my hand away. "Leave me alone. I will keep my evilness away from you and your family as your wife said." I gave a quick look to the girl on the balcony and turned then walked away.

I continued to drag myself until I reached Kate and Hayden.

"Lee, why didn't you come here directly?"

I looked at my hands with Kate's as I answered.

" I knew you would take me in but I hoped for once he could be a father to me. For once, I thought would have a parents love. Just one hug to tell me that everything will be okay. Instead he just proved what my mom always says."

" Oh Lee. I'm so sorry and I don't blame you. I know I would try to reach out to my parents if anything happened. I'm sorry you have those ungrateful people as parents. And for the record they don't deserve you. And your mom,no, that woman doesn't know anything."

After so much debate among us, the two managed to convince me to stay with them until I got back on my feet. Then there was the drama queen who literally was ready to drag me to the hospital.

At the hospital, I was told the cut wasn't deep and would be fine. I was also given some antibiotics and told to take enough rest.

When we got to the house, we found someone waiting for me.

"Who is that? I've never seen her around here." I heard Kate say.

I looked forward to try and see who she was talking about. The shock on my face said it all.

"That's Ann"

Kate turned fast with the same expression of shock as Hayden who turned to look at me as well.

"Ann? As in the Ann?" Hayden asked and  I responded with a yes.

" What does she want?" Kate asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine."

We got out of the car and walked the short distance to the front of the apartment complex. When we reach her, she gave an awkward wave and introduced herself to the other two. After a few awkward minutes, she turned to me.

"Can we talk?" She looked scared when asking. The other two gave me a  questioning look and I gave them a small nod showing I was okay to talk to her.

" Ya sure. We can sit in the garden behind."

Kate and Hayden lived in a nice neighborhood and we're lucky to have found this apartment complex. It was owned by a nice family, who seemed to take care of the building and got along with the tenants. I hear some tenants have been here so long,it became a generational home for them. Their parents had lived here and now them. The front of the building had a shelter like structure for the parking lot, each apartment were given to slots. They provided security and a front desk with a receptionist. The receptionist is the owners niece who lives in a small apartment facing the garden in the back. The garden is well maintained and has enough benches for tenants.

We took a sit at one of the small tables near the flower bed. I looked at the girl in front of me, we had so many features we got from our fathers side.

"Ann, why are you here?"

She looked down playing with her fingers nervous. " I was scared you would refuse to talk to me."

" Why would I? I don't think you've done anything bad to me. But, if you are here to cause trouble, this could be the last we talk. I know your mother would kill me and blame me for anything happening to you. And I don't need more trouble."

She gave a dry laugh. "My mom and I don't see eye to eye. I'm the black sheep in her eyes and the angel is my twin Andrew who does what she wants."

I looked at her with pity because, what I saw in her eyes was the same longing I had when I spoke of my mother. " I'm sorry to hear that. But, why are you here?"

She took a deep breath."I had a fight with my parents. You know, I wait for the day my mother gets her karma. She's the coldest person I know. From the time she realized I wasn't like her, I'm pretty much a black sheep. My dad took care of me and loved me." She looked at me with sadness in her eyes. "I know he loves me. I've always been so proud to be called his daughter. He is the most loving person I know. I swear, he's a good person."

I felt something twist in my chest because I didn't know the side of him she was talking about. The memories of him happy and the sweetest person, were fading or faded. The person I knew, was one who neglected me, disappointed me and pushed me away. Made me pay for I don't know what I wronged him.

"Ann, I'm happy you have that bond with him. I didn't, the person you speak of is a stranger. A man I only see as a person who gave me life and ran at the nearest exit and never looked back. Again why are you here? And why tell me all this?"

"I kinda knew you existed but it was never confirmed. I would dream about you but everytime I asked dad, he would brush it off and say it was just Andrew and I."

Wow!that hurt but,expected.

" Today, when you came by the house I remembered you from my dreams. Then I heard mom and dad shouting, well more like mom shouting. Dad came out and acted like you did something to him. What you said to him, I heard. That showed me a side I didn't know about him. You looked like you were going to fall at anytime. I rushed and confronted my dad and his look of shame showed me all I could take. I walked out and followed you. I didn't want you to know I did because I thought you would shout at me but, I also wanted to make sure you were safe. You got here and I didn't know which apartment you went to so I waited."

"Anna, have you been here all night?" She nodded. " I'm sure your parents are worried and you also don't know me."

" I know you are my sister." She quickly looked up in panic. "I'm sorry. I'm sure you don't count me as a sister."

"It's fine. I am your sister. But still you can't run from home like that. And I want to believe you but...l"

" I know. But can we please try. I want to know you.Please, just try to know me and if you want me out of your life, I will go"

………………

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