when I see someone standing at the door waiting
for me. I get closer, already feeling my good mood
evaporate as my father holds his arms out ready to
hug me. I let him do so and I kiss his cheek,
nervous about this surprise visit.
“What are you doing here?” I ask him.
“I came to see your last exam, I hope you don’t
mind.”
“About what happened yesterday night—”
“Let’s not mention it again, okay? I was taken
by surprise, I wasn’t expecting that,” he says,
looking at my by-now visibly swollen belly. “You
must understand it will take me a while to get used
to the idea.”
I nod nervously as I fix my eyes on my gym
shoes. Things have changed since I’ve been
pregnant. I dress in a more sporty and comfortable
way, I don’t wear make-up or things on my hair
and I feel good. Just myself.
“Can I take you out for lunch? I’d like to stay a
bit with my daughter.”
“Okay,” I concede, worried about how this day
is going to end, a day that started off in the best
possible way.
~ ~ ~
We go to a place near campus that’s full of
professors and researchers and we sit down at a
table for two at the end of the hall.
“So, how are things going?”
“What is it you really want to know?”
