Letter To Dad (Part Ii)

You stayed gone for so long, you missed it all. You didn't even know number three. He would come after you flee. We were forced to move ahead, not much time to remember. Growing up instead. Late at night when it was quiet, and all was in bed. I would wonder where you were. (Did you even think of us?) When I was twelve maybe thirteen, I got this notion in my head that I would look for you. Someone I remember had said you moved back to Oklahoma. So, I started there. We had gone on a trip, my first look was in the phone book. I continued, for some time. I scavanged through all mom's things for evidence of you. Some small token that would lead me to where you were. I gave up not long there after. I wouldn't try again until I was seventeen. Now it seemed I was wiser, I asked for assistance. My grandmother was the sleuth, she uncovered the truth. You arrived as did I, we didn't know the other would be there. I didn't even get out of the car, the door wasn't even ajar. Even now after all is done the choice was yours although I had begun. When to see you should've been mine, but that decision you took this time. After that weekend without seeing you I opted to call. We spoke a while, mostly chit chat. Nothing was said about why you left as you did. For a moment though it was just as it should be, a daughter talking to her father. It was nice. You wrote soon after, the words you penned weren't what I was after, it was a disaster. I struck the match and burned your words. I forgot and moved away faster.