The Little Things

a father who holds onto the small things he remembers of his daughter when she was young, yet doesn’t see all she’s become in the world.

What amazes me about you is how you remember little things about me
you handed me a plate with raviolis on it, my favorite food since I was little
In the center of the plate there was a small cup filled with sauce.
Ever since I could remember, I always hated sauce on my pasta
you remembered.
You cut my cucumbers vertically and give me Italian dressing on the side, also.
you remembered.
You tell me that I would make an amazing pediatrician one day, like I always wanted to be
You remembered.
You know how many freckles lie on my nose and cheeks and It reminds you of when I was little, because I looked exactly like you when you were little.
You say I always sound depressed on the phone but you remember that it is only my tone of voice, I am always happy
you remembered.
You remember the smile on my face every time I got off the bus and saw that you were home early.
You remember the home videos where you're calling my name, wanting a kiss and I would always run over to you with my lips looking like a fish.
You still try to give me 4 strikes when we play wiffle ball, because thats what you did when I was little.
You remembered.
your favorite picture of me is one when I was four, and i’m leaning on a tree
You can see the innocence in my blue eyes and that little smile on my face
You remember all these little things about me.
you love all these moments in my life
and although it amazes me and shocks me
All of those little things and little moments were when I was little.
You know me and remember me as that little girl.
But,
You don’t know me now.
I’m not that little girl against the tree with the stripped turtle neck
and the short blonde hair.
I don't even have blue eyes anymore, you see.
They’re green with a sunset in the middle, almost like my brothers eyes.
the only thing in that picture that didn’t change is the smile on my face.
I still smile with the same little smirk in all my pictures but the girl in that picture is not me anymore.
You see,
I don’t care if my sauce lays on my pasta.
I don’t care if my dressing is mixed in.
I don’t even want to be a doctor anymore, I haven’t for awhile.
I know you think I wear makeup to cover up the freckles on my face, but I don’t.
I wear makeup to cover up the imperfections I see when I look in the mirror.
I still sound depressed on the phone and yes that is the tone of my voice, but you always assume that its just my tone.
What you don’t know is that I was sad.
You see,
I come home and there isn’t an immediate smile on my face anymore
because you aren’t home early.
You’re not home at all.
I don’t pucker my lips like a fish anymore
i just gently kiss you on the cheek when I see you.
I don’t need 4 strikes anymore
I can hit on the first pitch now.
I am not who I was when I was younger
I have changed so much like you wouldn't even believe
But, I allow you to love these moments and cherish the little things
Because those are the last memories you remember of me at home.
It amazes me that you remember who I was
But this is who I am now.
I hope you can love me and remember me for all that I have become.

Reviews

[LanelWilson]

I loved reading this, I had to finish...wow,,,

[Lucien Maier]

very good emotions.
You start it out with a cadence. "you remembered."
if you don't maintain that cadence it will pull the reader out of the rthym of the piece.
Again good emotion.