Thats why I dont have any real memories of my dad. All I know comes from the stories my mum used to tell meeverything was fine before I arrived. My dad supported my mum and helped her out. But he lived with us for less than a year. As soon as I was born, he vanished. Back then, there were no mobile phones, so my mum had no idea where to look for him. Even at his work, nobody knew where hed gone. It was a tough time for my mum.
She managed to find a job. Because she had nobody else to leave me with, she took me along everywhere she went. I remember clearly how cold it was in the room where she worked. Because of that, I was ill quite often. Later on, I started going to nursery, and in the meantime, my mum found another job cleaning offices.
We never had enough money, but I saw how hard my mum worked. She did absolutely everything for me. After dad left, she decided shed live for me. I finished school and went to university. I got myself a job, and these days I try to help my mum as much as I can. I do whatever I can to make her less anxious. All these years, theres been no word from my father. He never asked about my life, not once.
But then, one day, I heard a knock at the door. Mum went to answer, and I heard a mans voice. I stepped out and saw an old man with a walking stick. Mum turned to me and said he was my father.
He was crying and apologising, saying hed been young and foolish. He admitted he was scared of being responsible. All those years, my father had lived in the city, with another family and a daughter whos a bit younger than I am. But later, he started drinking, and his second wife kicked him out. Now, in his old age, nobody wants him. His other daughter wouldnt let him come home. We were his last hopeme and my mum. And I really didnt know what to do.
On one hand, hes my dadIve waited for him for so long. On the other hand, he abandoned us and only showed up when he needed help. What pains me most is thinking of my mumI dont want her to be upset. She spent so much of her energy and health learning how to survive on her own, and then he just turned up. I told him I needed some time to figure things out. My mum stayed quiet and only said it should be my decision.
