She never thought she’d hear his voice again, until one ordinary afternoon, her phone buzzed with a call she could not ignore. Maria’s heart raced as she stared at the screen, ‘Dad’ flashing on it. Her mind was a whirlpool of confusion and disbelief, pulling her back to the last time they had spoken, twenty years ago.
For two decades, Maria lived with the unanswered questions and the aching void left by her father’s sudden departure from their lives. The arguments had been fierce, and the words exchanged back then were sharp enough to leave scars. Maria’s mother had always said that time heals all wounds, but Maria often wondered if the scars only became more profound over time.
The call was brief, awkward even. Her father’s voice was unfamiliar and rough, revealing hints of a life lived hard. He said he was in town and wanted to see her. She reluctantly agreed to meet him at the small café on the corner, a place once dear to them both.
When Maria arrived, she found him sitting in a booth by the window. He looked older, more worn, but there was a familiar kindness in his eyes that she hadn’t remembered. As she approached, he stood up awkwardly, unsure whether to hug her or just shake hands.
“Maria,” he said softly, “It’s so good to see you.”
“Dad,” she replied with mixed emotions, “I honestly never thought this day would come.”
They sat in silence for a moment, both absorbing the gravity of the situation. He cleared his throat, attempting to find words that had been bursting inside him for years.
“I’m sorry,” he began, his voice trembling. “I was wrong to leave. I thought I was doing what was best, but I was confused and scared.”
Maria listened, her heart battling between anger and the deep-seated longing for her father’s presence. Memories flooded her mind — the missed birthdays, the countless Father’s Days spent without him.
“You left us,” she whispered, tears threatening her composure. “You left me when I needed you the most.”
He nodded, the guilt clear in his eyes. “I did, and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t regret it.”
Maria did not respond immediately, and instead looked outside where the sun was setting, casting a warm glow on the street. This was the crucial moment she had imagined countless times, yet she found herself at a loss. Would she ever be able to forgive him?
“I don’t know if I can just forgive and forget,” she admitted, finally meeting his gaze. “But maybe we can try starting over.”
Her father’s expression softened, relief evident across his face. “I’d like that,” he said quietly.
They talked for hours, sharing stories both of their lives now and of the past. The air was still tinged with tension, but also with a new sense of hope.
As they parted, her father reached out, hesitating for a moment before placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Thank you,” was all he could muster, but it was enough.
Maria watched him walk away, unsure of what the future would hold, but feeling a weight lift slightly from her heart. She realized that healing was a long road, but perhaps it was one she could travel now, with him by her side.
She headed home under the fading light, the promise of the next meeting already lingering in her mind.