3
I never imagined Mark could be so cruel.
Even a stranger wouldn’t say these things to
<
a child, let alone her own father and a
teacher.
My head was spinning. I could barely hear my
voice as I asked, “Lily is dead, don’t you feel
any guilt?”
“What would I feel guilty for!”
Mark yelled, “She’s always trying to get my
attention. Do you not know I had to raise
her?! Look at Jake
I hung up and blocked his number.
The despair was overwhelming. I collapsed on
the floor, gasping for air.
Was this how my Lily felt as she was dying?
<
Once I had collected myself, I contacted a
funeral home to cremate her. When my
parents heard, they drove in from out of town,
devastated.
Mark didn’t come home, and I didn’t bother
with him.
On the day of Lily’s funeral, I hadn’t planned
on telling Mark, but my mother convinced me.
She said that he was her father and he should
be there to say goodbye.
I looked at the black and white picture in my
hand. Lily was smiling at the camera so
brightly.
That was from last year’s birthday when she
got the top score in her class. Mark was
proud and promised to take her to the park.
<
That photo was the one we took as a family
under the Ferris wheel.
And now, Lily was alone in her funeral picture.
The irony was too much to bear.
I reluctantly called Mark.
“Lily’s funeral is today.”
His voice was full of annoyance. “I’m busy
these days. Jake is sick, and Beth is working.
Jake doesn’t have a father, so I have to be
here for him.”
“Why don’t you ask Lily if she wants to study
more, she has been playing for days. She
needs to get back to her tutor tomorrow!”
<
I found myself laughing.
He’s completely neglecting his own daughter,
not even knowing she’s dead, while taking
care of someone else’s kid?
“Lily won’t be going to tutoring.”
I said slowly, “Not ever!”
“It’s your fault for making her a spoiled brat!”
Mark was angry. “You always let her do what
she wants! She can just drop out of school, I
don’t care, whatever she does, it’s better
than making me stressed!”
“Mark.”
My voice was soft, but shaking. “When are
<
you going to stop being so self–centered?
Will you just listen?”
“Sarah! Are you going to do this to me
again?”
“You are such a jerk, and you are never going
to stop!”
I shrieked suddenly. “I said she is dead! Are
you not a teacher? Why can’t you understand
that?!”
He paused, like he was shocked.
“Lily is right here, she is being buried today.
I’ll wait for you for half an hour, and if you
don’t come you don’t have to come ever
again!”
<
I hung up, a wave of grief washing over me.
Mark did show up, but with such skepticism.
He was confused, and eventually just stopped
in front of Lily’s tombstone, staring at her
photo.
“What is this?”
I looked at him coldly, mocking him. “Can’t
you figure it out, Mr. Teacher?”
דוו
“This is the daughter you verbally abused and
cursed, the one you wanted to get hit by a
car.”
“This is her grave! The grave of your own
daughter!”
