49: The invitation

Dana

I lost count of how long it had been since I felt my father's arms around me. A lump formed in my throat, but I mustered non-existent strength and promised myself I wouldn't shed a tear in front of him.

Dad didn't deserve my tears. He had humiliated me before and hurt my mother. I didn't understand how he had the nerve to come to my mother's house to see me. I didn't want to imagine my mother's face when she saw him standing at her door. I knew they hadn't seen each other in years.

Dad tightened his embrace. He stroked my back as if we were close and he was happy to see me. I knew he had some bad intention. I didn't know what he wanted to talk to me about. He and I had nothing to do with each other. He made that clear years ago.

I felt confused. I didn't know how he found me here, but I guessed that Demian had told him about my stay at my mother's house. It bothered me that Demian shared that information with my father. He had no reason to do so. Last night, I fell asleep crying