Time To Think

A few other parents tried to make conversation with him as he stood outside smoking a cigarette. But he wasn’t in the mood to talk. So, he stood there, frozen in place, as the night grew colder and darker around him. Smoking and thinking.

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The laughter and music from the party drifted out into the night, but it sounded distant, like it was coming from another world. Just like that, the happy feeling was gone.

He Can’t Do It

Steven’s mind raced with possibilities, each one more terrifying than the last. What should he do next? He thought about the woman he had known so long ago, the choices he had made, and the consequences that had followed.

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He thought about Trisha, about how much she meant to him, and how much he wanted to protect her from the truth. But he had no idea how much worse things were going to get.

Keeping Secrets

Steven was starting to feel sick to his stomach. The truth would shatter the reality of their current lives.

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But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the past was catching up to him, that it was only a matter of time before everything came crashing down. He was confused, scared, and utterly lost. And so, he stood there in the silence, staring up at the stars, searching for answers that he feared would never come.

It Wouldn’t Hurt

Just then, Trisha came back outside. “Dad?” Trisha’s voice broke through his thoughts as she stepped outside, concern etched on her face. “What’s going on? You’ve been acting weird ever since you met Alicia.”

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Steven looked at his daughter, her worried eyes mirroring his own confusion. He didn’t want to burden her with this, but the questions gnawed at him. “Trisha,” he began slowly, “what’s Alicia’s mother’s name?” Trisha looked puzzled. “Her mom’s name is Michelle. Why?”

Confirms It

Steven’s heart sank. It was her. He was sure of it now. Alicia was Michelle’s daughter—his daughter. But how could that be? He had never known Michelle was pregnant, and she had never told him. All these years, he had been unaware that he had another child.

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“Dad, why are you asking about Alicia’s mom? What’s going on?” Trisha pressed, her voice rising with worry. Steven ran a hand through his hair, the reality of the situation crashing down on him. “Trisha, I need you to trust me on this. I have to leave for a while.”

Running Away

“What? No! You can’t just leave in the middle of my party!” Trisha protested, grabbing his arm. “What’s happening? Why are you acting so strange?”

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Steven took a deep breath, struggling to find the words. He wanted to tell her the truth, to explain everything, but he couldn’t. Not yet. Not here. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Something important has come up, and I need to take care of it.” Trisha’s eyes filled with tears. “But, Dad, this is my birthday. You can’t just leave me like this!”