Chapter Text
“Do you want to hold her, Joel?”
He was so nervous he could barely speak. All he could do was nod in response, and Amy gently handed Sarah to him.
Joel looked at the baby in his arms.
No, not the baby.
His daughter.
His nerves suddenly melted away.
She was the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen.
“Hey, baby girl.” He said in the softest, most gentle voice anyone had ever heard from him, with the happiest smile on his face.
Sarah opened her eyes and looked at the man holding her.
Those eyes.
Those blue eyes that could light up the whole world.
That was the moment he devoted his life to her.
Joel decided that he would do anything and everything he could to give his baby girl the life that he never had.
He wanted to protect her from any bad in the world.
He wanted to hold her until the end of his days.
He never wanted to let go of the miracle in his arms.
He never would let go of that miracle in his arms.
*
four years later
*
He felt his heart drop as he read the note on his bedside table.
Joel,
I don't know how to say this.
I don't think this is working.
I have some issues-
I’m leaving.
Over these past five years, I’ve had so many doubts over whether or not I’ve made the right decisions, not only with you, but with everyone else in my life.
I realized that I can't be a good mother to Sarah or a good wife to you.
I need to straighten things out, I need to start over.
I'm moving. Please don't come looking for me or worry about me.
I’ve already signed all the papers. I left them on the kitchen table.
I never meant for anything to end this way. I never meant to hurt you.
I hope you can understand where I'm coming from.
I’m sorry.
-Amy
Joel immediately felt both the fear and heartbreak appear. His eyes started to fill up with tears.
I knew she was going to do this.
She's really gone.
Oh my god, she's really gone.
He stumbled back into the wall and slowly slumped onto the ground and sobbed like he’d never cried before.
I can’t do this on my own!
What am I gonna do…
Joel suddenly heard the door to his room open, and saw Sarah standing in the doorway. He quickly wiped the tears off of his face, trying to keep it together so he wouldn't scare his little girl.
“Daddy?” Sarah started walking towards him slowly, in her tiny plaid pajamas.
“Yes, baby?” He tried to control the tears from rolling down his cheeks, but they just wouldn't stop.
Sarah walked over to Joel and wrapped her small arms around his neck, not wanting her dad to be sad anymore.
“It's okay, daddy.” She repeated the same thing that he always told her when she had a nightmare in that adorable voice of hers.
Joel broke and started crying into his daughter’s shoulder. She started to stroke his hair on the back of his head, like he did for her before.
He could see Sarah’s strength. She wouldn’t let this hurt her, and neither would Joel.
We’ll be alright.