By: Charise Cating
a child with no worries—
she ran freely and smiled wholeheartedly.
“hi, dad”
“bye, dad”
“see you later, dad”
careless, happy, and free.
a few years older, yet still a child—
she perfected hiding her sadness.
“chemotherapy”
“no guarantee”
“colon cancer”
confused, hurt, and fearful.
a teenager, practically an actress now—
she buried all the horror.
“time of death”
“eulogy”
“say goodbye”
crushed, heartbroken, and faithless.
a decade and a half later
the pain remains fresh
a daughter without a father
will always wonder
“am i ever to see my dad again?”