My Daughter

I layed my beautiful daughter into her crib, kissing her forehead as I pull the blanket over her tiny body. She snuggled herself up into a comfortable position and sighed peacfully in her sleep. Walking out, I turned off the light, allowing the night light to keep her fears away. I walked downstairs and sat on the couch. My daughter Miya was the product of a one-night stand. I regretted not using protection at first, but once she came to my doorstep and said she was pregnant I couldn't of been happier. I was going to be father, with a family.
But sadly, the woman didn't want to be a mother. I offered hr a home and care while pregnant, and took care of her like any man should when he gets a woman pregnant. Sure I was a sarcastic and teasing boy sometimes, but the day she went into labor, I was at the store. The mailman came by when it occured and took her. I got a call on my cellphone after her birth. I made it to the hospital after that, and saw my beautiful daughter.
But it was the last time I saw or heard from her mother. She left me with the baby for five months now. My little Miya. God if anything happened, I don't know, I'd be destroyed. She's my everything.
Suddenly, as I got up to grab something to eat, I heard her wailing and crying in her crib. Must be a nightmare. Closing my drink to prevent a spill, I jogged upstairs and into her room. I was wrong, it was another diaper change.
~~~
"Are you ready for your first day of school?" I asked happily as we walked hand-in-hand to her school.
"What if people don't like me Daddy?" My five year old asked. Smiling, I scooped her into my arms.
"What's not to like?" I asked, tickling her. She giggled happily. "I'm positive that you will  have tons of friends. If not we'll draw some faces on balloons and give them names." Miya laughed. I smiled. Finally we made it to school. I was becoming a bit nervous. I've never been away from her for this long. I set her down. "Alright Miya, you ready?" She hugged my tightly and I smiled.
"I don't want to Daddy." She mumbled. Children were beginning to bustle in school with teacher. I hugged her tightly and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Don't be scared. Be strong okay? You can tell me all about it when we go out for ice cream. It won't be long." He smiled. Her teacher called her name, motioning her over. I smiled. "Go on. Everything is going to be fine." Miya nodded, hugging me again before taking off to the teacher. As I stood upright, I watched her walk in and the doors of the school closed. It hurt, watching her grow up. It was times like these that I wish she'd remain small forever.
Especially when she asked me about her mother.
~~~
When Miya was twelve she asked me about her mother. I wasn't sure how to react to that, and didn't know how to tell her. After a few minutes of stalling, I finally told her the truth. It was a bad idea. She began to scream and cry.
"Why did I not know?! Why haven't I talked to her or seen her? She's my mom!"
"I know Miya I know..." I said gently, putting my hand on her shoulder, but she yanked it away. "Listen, your mother wasn't ready to have a child. Once you were born she brought you to me. And I wasn't able to find her."
"But she's my mother!"
"I know that Miya. I always try and find her but I never can." Miya's eyes were wide and she was about to cry. I tried to pull her into a hug, but she ran upstairs into her room, closing and locking the door. I walked upstairs and knocked. "Miya please come out."
"You've lied to me and enver told me about my mother. I hate you!" I flinched back. That hurt. The best thing I have in this world, my heart, my soul, my everything. Hates me. My brain told me she was only taking in the ideas of finally knowing about her mother, but my heart told me she meant it. She hated me. I sat on the couch and sighed. Our relationship was never the same after that.
Miya grew up into a beautiful young woman, and while we were still close, we were never as close as we were when she was younger. She was turning eighteen today, and I had made a cake and it was just cooling off as Miya walked home from her part-time job.
"Dad I'm home." She said, closing the door. I looked up and smiled.
"Happy birthday Miya~ I made you a cake." She looked from me to the cake on the table. "Like it?" She smiled.
"Yeah thanks dad." I smiled happily. "Is this our dinner?"
"For tonight yeah, why not?" I laughed a bit. She smiled, putting her bag down and sitting at the table. I lit the candles, but she stopped me as soon as I opened my mouth to sing. She blew out her candles.
"Time to dig in." She said happily, taking the knife to cut the cake.
"No no no..." I said with a shake of my fingers. "I have a present for you." I looked behind me. "Come on out." Out walked a girl, slightly younger then me. I saw Miya's eyes widen. "Miya...this is your mother."
"Mom?" She smiled, and Miya ran into her embrace. "Mommy!" The woman hugged the eighteen year old and stroked her hair.
"I've missed you Miya...so much. I'm so sorry I haven't been around."
"I thought that Dad couldn't find you."
"I found her last month. I thought it'd be a surprise for your birthday fr your mother to be here." Miya looked at me, and hugged me.
"Thank you Dad. Thank you~" I hugged her back and smiled.
"Come on let's eat some cake." And we sat down at the table, eating and chatting like a family should.