When are you coming home?

A father's story

I held her waist as she started pedaling. Oh God, she's getting older now. almost 8 years old. 

"Don't let go dad!" she screamed as she started pedaling faster. She was scared that I'd let go, but sooner or later, I'd have to.

I let go. She was still going, she's riding her bike for the very first time! A teared streaked my cheek as I watched her.

Then she started turning her bike, moving towards me, a big grin on her face.

"I did it dad! I'm doing it!" she screamed happily. But she lost control, and she fell from her bike. I ran to her, asking her if she was ok. She smiled, but pointed at her knees. It was scraped. Nothing she can't handle.

I always had a first aid kit with me, so I cleaned the wound, and held her bike and her hand, as we returned home. 

My wife smiled as she saw us beaming with happiness. "So how was the practice?" she asked while she cleaned the dishes.

"I did it mom! I rode it on my own!" Maya screamed proudly. My wife gave me a huge hug. Thanks dear, she whispered.

The next day, A man called for me. My wife answered the phone, and by the look on her face it wasn't good news.

"You're being redeployed." she said, shaking her head in disappointment. Maya looked at me as she ate her breakfast. "Dad, are you going to kill people again?" she asked with a tiny voice.

"Of course not honey, I'm just going to check my people back in the base. I'd come home soon." I answered. She doesn't seem convinced.

That afternoon I picked her up from school. She seemed to be very gloomy. As I was driving, I asked her how her day was. "Fine." She replied, but her voice was on the edge of tears.

"Maya, are you crying?" I asked her. I turned to see that she was indeed crying.

"I just love you dad. I don't want to see you get hurt. I want to spend more time with you!" she turned to me, "but you're always gone!"

"Honey-" I started.

"No, dad! I know you have to go, you're important now. You always have been. But I just want you to know, You're important to me too." she said, her face going red from both sadness and anger.

When we got home, she barely talked to me. My wife knew what happened.

I was going through the airport, when my wife hugged me. "Be careful honey." she told me. 

Maya hugged me, but did not say anything else. She doesn't need to. I know she's mad.

When I arrived at the base, they told me we were to attack a group of terrorists.

"You are the best we have Jack." the commander told me. The night before that, a call came through. It was Maya.

"Honey it's late. why are you still up?" I asked her.

She didn't say anything for a while. Then I heard her say softly "Dad, I just  love you. When are you coming home?"

Tears filled my eyes. "I'll be home soon." I promised her.

It seemed to me that we didn't even have to attack the terrorists. They attacked us, in our own base. Gunshots blazed as the night filled with the lights of a hundred rifles all shooting at once. I too began to shoot, killing three in the process. After awhile I felt weakened. I stared as my chest as blood stained my uniform. The smell of gunpowder and blood filled the air. The shots I hear seemed muffled. I fell on one knee, as another bullet ripped a hole in my chest. Then another. And soon, I was laying on the ground, dying. I couldn't see anything, my vision darkened. But I saw her. Maya. I saw her as a small baby,  as I held her in my arms. Then I saw her walking for the first time. Then her biking. And finally I saw her hugging me for the last time.

"Don't let go dad!" her voice echoed in my ears.

I'm sorry Maya, but sooner or later, I'd have to let go.