“Daughter, Who Never Existed”
“Will you stop wailing?! People are staring at us from the other tables! Thank goodness none of my mates are here, or I’d be mortified!” exclaimed Charles, with an air of arrogance and a hint of irritation.
“Charles, why…?” breathed Lily, the girl sitting across from him, as she began to sob even harder.
“Not this again! What do you mean why? What child are you talking about? Did we ever agree to have a baby?! We’ve only been seeing each other for a couple of months! That’s more than enough!” Charles said the last words so loudly that patrons from nearby tables truly began to look over.
“What are you saying? We love each other! You confessed your feelings! You said…” Lily couldn’t finish her sentence because Charles interrupted her.
“Look, I’m done with this… said or didn’t say… In a few days, I’m moving to America with my parents. We’ve already sold the house here, and my dad has moved all our assets. So, as they say, farewell darling!” The young man delivered these words with a keen glance at the weeping girl.
“Charles…” she uttered slowly, fighting back another wave of tears that streamed uncontrollably down her face.
“Waiter, can I get the bill?! How long do I have to wait?!” Charles raised his hand in a gesture to the waiters near the bar, signalling he wished to settle up as quickly as possible.
The waiters hurried about; Charles waved them off, pulled out several folded notes from his wallet, and carelessly tossed them onto the table.
“Bottom line: I’m late, and I’m tired of your tears. I promised you nothing and said nothing! I’m leaving. Feel free to order yourself something while you’re at it; there’s plenty here.” Charles gestured at the money and walked toward the exit.
Lily watched him leave, covering her face with her hands as fresh tears flowed. A moment later, a waiter approached the table, collecting the notes and clearing the empty cups from the table.
“Would you like anything else?” the waiter politely asked.
“No, thank you,” Lily replied quietly, avoiding eye contact with the waiter through her tear-streaked eyes. She slowly stood up, grabbed her handbag from the chair, and made her way toward the door. Charles’s car was no longer parked outside; he had vanished.
Stepping outside, the cool breeze enveloped her, soothingly cooling her flushed cheeks. The evidence of her recent tears was only visible in her puffy eyelids. Lily absently fished a small mirror and a damp tissue from her bag, wiped her smudged mascara, and turned away from the dreaded café.
The thoughts of returning home felt unbearable. Instead, she wandered down a small square where she used to enjoy leisurely strolls with school friends.
Seated on a bench, memories of carefree school days flooded back. “Oh, how simple and clear everything was back then—life stretched out before me like an open road. The only worries I had were whether the dance at the local hall would be cancelled or if I’d flunk geography. And now?! My life is spiralling into chaos! What am I going to do?! Abandon my baby or give birth just to join the ranks of single mothers, raising a child on my own while juggling two jobs to make ends meet?” – Lily pondered bitterly, and tears once again betrayed her.
“Miss, is something the matter? Can I help you?” A pleasant male voice broke through her thoughts, accompanied by a hand extended with a tissue.
Lily accepted the tissue and lifted her gaze, surprised to see who was offering it.
“Lily! Is that you?!” exclaimed a man, his face lighting up with recognition.
“Tom…” she stammered, bewildered as she attempted to rise from the bench.
Tom quickly enveloped her in a warm embrace, repeating insistently, “Lily! Lily! I’m so glad to see you! You won’t believe it—I was just asking Mum about you this morning!”
After a few moments, he finally released her from his hold.
“What are you doing sitting here crying all alone?”
“I walked past and popped into our square; I was reminiscing about school days, and it hit me,” Lily quickly fabricated a story to avoid revealing her true state of distress.
“I see. You’re still as sensitive as ever! And you look even more stunning than before!” he replied sincerely, flashing a smile.
“Tom, how about we grab a coffee somewhere instead? I know a lovely café nearby, we can chat there!” he gestured towards the very café Lily had just left, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“Actually, let’s skip the café and stroll through the park instead? We could get ice cream. The weather’s lovely!” Lily suggested, her spirits lifting.
“Sure!” Tom agreed with a grin.
They wandered through the park for a couple of hours, sharing nostalgic tales from school, and for that brief moment, Lily forget about Charles and her unexpected pregnancy.
“Are you still single?” Tom cautiously asked.
“Not really. Things didn’t pan out,” she replied meaningfully.
“Same for me,” Tom said with a mixture of resignation and relief.
They had dated during their school years, with everyone referring to them as the ‘young couple,’ while their parents quietly planned their wedding.
But then a routine situation upended everything—Tom was drafted into the army for a year. Lily waited for him for six months before realizing she had fallen for someone else.
The new boyfriend, Carlos, initially wooed Lily with charm and gifts, leading her to believe an engagement was on the horizon. Eventually, though, their four-year relationship crumbled; Lily caught Carlos with another girl. He pleaded for forgiveness, but Lily knew she deserved better.
For months she lived in a fog of sorrow, trying to forget the betrayal, until she encountered Charles. Strangely enough, history appeared to repeat itself. Lily fell head over heels for this dashing young man who showered her with affection and luxury. She dared to believe in authentic love and was ready to start a family. Little did she know, for Charles, it was merely a pastime. Unknown to her, he planned to relocate to America from the start, using her to fill the void of boredom.
Tom bore no anger toward Lily for moving on. He was always the sensible one. She had written to inform him of her decision, and he had simply wished her happiness in return. After his service, however, Tom chose to remain in London rather than return to their hometown.
Over five years in the city, he attained his degree, dated a few girls, and secured employment. Yet, the personal aspect of his life never gelled, and when layoffs occurred at his workplace, he found himself among the last hired. Without hesitation, he decided to return home, convinced that Lily would have moved on and married by now.
But fate had a surprise in store for Tom; not only was Lily single, she was also free from entanglements. Naturally, Tom took it as a chance worth pursuing.
… Two months had passed since their first encounter in the square. Tom and Lily had started dating. Tom beamed with joy over the recent events in his life, while Lily realized she was still in love with Tom. Yet, the shadow of carrying another man’s child loomed, gnawing at her conscience. Each time they prepared for a date, the heavy truth loomed—these relationships bore an inevitable end.
One day, Tom invited her out for dinner at a restaurant. After their lovely meal, he procured an engagement ring from his jacket pocket, looking hopeful.
“So, what do you say? Will you marry me and share our lives together—through joy and hardship?” he asked with a warm smile, confident in her acceptance.
“No,” Lily replied, her eyes lowered.
“What do you mean no? Why not, Lily? We love each other! Where are you going?”
Tears flowed, and she bolted for the door.
Ten years passed…
“Mum, who’s picking me up from school today? You or Dad?” Lila asked over breakfast.
“I’m not sure, sweetheart. We’ll see this evening,” Lily replied while wrapping sandwiches for her husband.
“We’ll pick you up together, and then head to the cinema! It’s Friday!” Tom declared, walking into the kitchen.
“Hooray! Daddy! Hooray! To the cinema…” exclaimed a jubilant Lila.
“Eat quickly, or you’ll be late for school,” Tom urged while glancing nervously at Lily, who seemed distracted and tense, scrolling on her phone.
“Is that him again?” he asked lightly.
“Yes, Tom. He’s saying he’ll take me to court to take Lila and move to America,” she revealed, her voice trembling with anxiety.
“This has to stop. Give me his number; I’ll handle it,” Tom replied with determination.
“No, Tom! I can’t risk your involvement,” she said, tears brimming in her eyes.
“Everything will be alright. Ready, Lila? Let’s go!”
Tom and Lila exited the building.
“Ah! So this is who Lily ran off with! Her former fiancé!” Charles sneered as he lounged against the building.
“Lila, head to the car. I need to talk to this man,” Tom instructed as Lila complied and climbed into the back seat.
“So, Lily tricked you, eh? Did you even realize you’re raising someone else’s child? You were just her backup choice,” Charles jeered. “She loves me!”
“Listen up! Lily and I are in love. I’m raising my own child. You were merely her biggest mistake—one she has corrected. Now, leave, and I don’t want to see you again! Or things could get messy…”
With those words, Tom pushed Charles. Charles stumbled but kept his footing.
“Dad, are you coming soon? We’ll be late!” Lila called from the car.
“I’m on my way, Lila,” Tom replied.
They drove off as Charles stood watching, realizing he had lost. He couldn’t help but wonder—was it worth fighting for? Fighting for a love that had never existed? Fighting for a daughter he had never even had.
That evening, he caught the next flight out, never to return to his hometown. Sometimes, it’s necessary to draw a clear line, even when closure is elusive.
