My Daddy | Teen Ink

My Daddy

September 3, 2015
By futurista12 ELITE, Far Rockaway, New York
futurista12 ELITE, Far Rockaway, New York
615 articles 1 photo 114 comments

Favorite Quote:
"And though she be but little, she is fierce."- Shakespeare


Butterfly birthday cakes and presents all wrapped in pretty paper

It's supposed to be a special day, but each year it gets even faker

I smile and laugh, but deep down inside

There's a pain in my heart that I try to hide

Didn't want no ice-cream; didn't want no cake

Without my daddy here, what is there to fake?

Maybe I should stop waiting

Maybe I should stop wishing

I thought maybe today, but he's still a missing

My daddy

 

Green graduation gowns and tassels golden as the sun

It's supposed to be a happy day, but I aint had no fun

I dial a number and hear the phone ring ring ring ring

I was late for my solo; he didn't hear me sing

Took my diploma; turned my tassel to the right side

Threw up in the bathroom, but I refused to cry

Maybe I should stop watching

Maybe I should stop calling

I thought maybe today, but he did not answer

My daddy

 

Through college exams and late-night parties

Past new loves and heartbreak, breakups many

Where were you?

Where are you?

Every night I wished upon the fading stars

You would show up someday, wouldn't be so far

I waited all the time for you

But you were never there

Fell asleep wrapped in tears, fears, tissues, and hurts

Daddy, daddy, I miss you; Daddy, daddy, it hurts

 

White wedding dresses and butterflies in exchange for flowers

I pasted on a smile; my mother called you every half hour

My brother walked me down the aisle

Everyone gave a puzzled smile

Went on a honeymoon far away, hey

You never had me so you couldn't give me away

In every picture there was someone missing next to me

Now I'm married, but I still don't have my dream

Maybe I should stop seeking

Maybe I should stop hoping

I thought maybe today, but he didn't show up (again)

My daddy

I don't know where you are


The author's comments:

I wrote this on my 14th birthday. It was really late and I was waiting for my father to come. Then, it turned midnight and it was clear he wasn't coming.

My sister made a cake for me and my little brother frosted it in the shape of a butterfly (I love butterflies), but I couldn't make myself eat anything. (My sister was mad that she wasted her time making the cake, but I did eat it the next day.)

I was so devastated. I called my favorite radio station and asked them to play "Just Another Birthday" for me. The DJ said sure and he asked how old I was. When I told him, he said, "Wow, how did you grow up so fast?" So then I pretended he was my dad, calling to say happy birthday.

Then, I stayed up so late, listening to the radio, but he never played the song. And I thought, yeah, that's my father. And I cried myself to sleep.

Every year after that was tear-free, though. I learned not to wait for miracles to happen.


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