My 'Someone' In The World Of Our Own

Forgiveness is a big word, isn't it?

But sometimes we needed forgive just to feel the peace. It is something I felt like doing today.

It was a sunny morning. I'm currently sitting here in the backseat of the bus. I'm heading to jail, where they brought my father. This is a very heavy and big decision for me, especially after experiencing 'it' for years.

The jail is in the city, and it takes hours to arrive there.

I needed to release everything—guilt, anger, hatred, and love. No matter what, he is my father, and I love him. If only I could bail him out, I would, but he scares me, I'm afraid of him. And jail might help him be better.

I hope he changed even a little, it's been days since he last tasted alcohol. He's been in jail for almost a week now.

I leaned against the window, plugged in my earphones, and wore them until I fell asleep.

-----------------------

I woke up when someone tapped my arm.

"Miss, this is your stop, right?" the grandpa next to me says while smiling from ear to ear.

"Uhm," I uttered

My eyes are blurry. I rubbed my eyes to improve my vision and noticed that it was my destination.

How did he know?

"Uhm, yes, thank you," I politely answered, and I grabbed my phone and put it in the bag. I stood up and pressed the button at the side

I felt like something was wrong.

I started walking towards the door, but I decided to look back. I saw Grandpa smiling. It creeps me out, but I smiled back before leaving the bus.

I walked until I reached the jail. It is bigger than the one in our town.

"Hi, I'm here to visit Abraham Dwyer," I said to the guard standing in front of the jail.

"How are you both related?" he asks with a grim expression.

"He's my father," I answered, and I looked away.

He opened the gate, and he asked me to follow him. We went to a private room, and my father is in there. I looked at him in the eyes. It doesn't show any expression.

His eyes are staring at me blankly; he is neither shocked nor happy.

As if he didn't know me...

As if I never existed in his world...

As if I were a stranger...

I need to be strong; I shouldn't cry; I'm here to forgive him.

I sat down and stared at him, waiting for him to initiate a topic. But he didn't

"D-dad" I stutter

"I'm not your father," he responded while staring at my eyes blankly.

Those words echoed in my ears a couple of times. I felt drunk; I can't feel myself. Those words struck me

"But, dad, I am your daughter," I said and started to shiver.

"You're not my daughter, and you will never be." He said confidently, "It makes me angrier and angrier."

"Da-" I was about to call him dad, but he slammed his hands on the table.

"I don't care how long you've travelled or what that is" he pointed at the lunch bag. I made him some food to eat in case he didn't eat well here in jail.

"I am not your father; I wish you were never born." "And I will hate you forever for taking your mother's life away from me," he added, starting to cry.

I want to cry too, but I mustn't. I came here to fix things with him, but I ended up getting disowned.

"I came here to forgive you," I said, and my tears rushed down my cheeks.

"I never beg your forgiveness," he said as he approached me.

"I don't want to see your face ever again," he said, throwing the lunch bag at me.

"But-" I'm about to tell him how I felt so I can release everything, but he glared at me, and he started walking to the door.

I stared at his back, hoping he'd look back, but he didn't.

I sat on the floor and burst out crying. Everything was silent. I can only hear myself sobbing and gasping for air. I never thought he would disown me.

I cried for almost five minutes, but the annoying guard asked me to leave. So I did.

I got up and took my phone from my bag when I noticed something. My purse was gone, so I went back to the room to check.

"Didn't I tell you to leave?" The grumpy security guard asked

"Yes, but I'm looking for my purse," I responded, and he did leave.

But I can't really find it. I went out and started walking, trying to figure out how I would be able to get home with no money.

I reached the gate when I saw a familiar figure, a very familiar one.

"Atlas?" I uttered

The boy looked in my direction, and it was indeed Atlas; he smiled at me.

"What are you doing here?" I walked near him, and he stared at me.

"Did you cry?" He grabbed my chin and looked at my face closely.

"What brings you here?" I asked so he wouldn't ask about my swollen eyes.

"Well, I'm here to visit a friend," he answered while grinning.

"Oh, you have a friend here?" I asked

"You," he said in the most annoying tone.

I punched his arm, and he yelled a very loud "ouchhhhh."

"How did you know I was here?" I asked curiously.

"Well, you haven't responded to any of my messages or calls." I went to your house, but you're not there. "So I thought you'd visit your father, and you did." He stated this proudly.

"uhm you went here because I didn't respond to your messages?" I look at him weirdly.

"Well, yes, because I'm worried about you," he said, scratching his back.

"But why are you crying?" he asked again.

"I didn't" I lied in the hopes that he'd buy it, but he didn't. We walked around town, and he kept asking me why my eyes were swollen.

We went to a mall and bought some drinks and snacks. I told him I lost my wallet, and he annoyed me by calling me "clump," short for clumsy.

"Clump, can you now tell me why you cried?" He asked once again.

It was nighttime, and the place was crowded.

I realized that everyone has their own world and values their time, but at the end of the day, there is someone who is willing to spend their time with you no matter what.