Avalon City

"You don't have to answer me.  Just understand one thing."  Papa's voice dropped to almost a whisper. 

"Whatever your choice is, I will fully support you.  You can count on me." 

I reached out and touched his arm.  He knew me just as much and for just as long as I knew him. 

If he was willing to try to love me without conditions, I had to at least try to meet him half way. 

Papa turned to me, his large hand covering my own.  "I so regret not having had the chance to be there for all the years you were growing up, but I will be there for all the years to come, from now on."

"Thank you Papa."  I said with a grateful heart. 

"No need to thank me.  I'm your Papa.  You can count on me, no matter what.  You are the most important person in my life."

"What about my birth mother?"

"She abandoned me at a time when I loved her more than my own life.  She stole you from me and handed you over to people I didn't even know."