... We All Fall Down

I stir my coffee and took a sip of it. "I can't believe I lost." My dad said. "By my 21 year old daughter!" "What can I say daddy? I'm a fast learner." "That you are sweetie." He chuckles. He looks at me then behind me. The door does a little ping and i turn around to see a guy walking in. "Who did you leave Dennis with?" "With mom and Tony." "My baby girl isn't such a baby anymore huh? Not even my son." He says. "We're always going to be your babies dad. You still call Arriane baby girl.. Why not me?" "That true." He grabs my hand. "I'm proud of you Nita. And maybe if I did listen to you when you begged me too stop....." I put my hand up to interrupt. "Dad.. Leave the past the past. Look at you now. You're a police officer, catching crime. You've been clean for three years. You're making me proud." I said and he kisses my hand. "The point is that maybe if I would've listen to you before, I would've seen you graduate and meet Tony before you guys got into a relationship.. I missed those things for my foolish actions." I put my other hand with his, when the gun fires. My dad quickly goes to my side and we both drop on the floor. I hide my face in his chest, before he moves away. "Stay here." "Daddy.. Please don't." He kisses my forehead and then my cheek. "It's my job baby girl." He lets me go and I go under the table. "PUT YOUR HANDS UP!" My dad yelled. "AND THE WEAPON DOWN." The guy points his gun right to my father. No. No. No. "YOU DONT TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" The guy yelled at my father. I reach for my purse but groan as I remember I left it at the car. I tried to see the guy's face, but all I could see was his nose. "I SAID PUT IT DOWN!" My dad yelled one more time before he shot the guy on the arm, but making his gun fire. "DAD!" I yelled, while the guy ran out the shop. I run to my father and quickly drop by him. "No.no.no..." He looks at me and then at the wound. "Stay with me daddy." Everyone in the shop was on their phones and crying. "Be strong Nita." I kiss his forehead and put his head in my laps. "No.. You stay strong..don't leave me.. Not again." I pressed the wound that was right by his heart. "I love you Nita." He said. "Take care of Dennis, Owen and your momma." "No.. You're going to be there to take care of me and Owen and Dennis and my momma. Just keep looking at me." I turn to the closest person. "WHERE ARE THEY?!" "They said they were coming." "Nita." I look at my dad who's hand was on my arm. "Daddy.." He smiles at me. "I'm proud to call you my daughter Nita Tegan. I'll always be with you. Forever and ever." I got his hand and place it on my cheek, my tears running down our hands. "Stay strong beautiful. Tell your mother that I'm sorry and that I love her." "But you have to tell her that." He smirks. "I love you Nita." Then his eyes slowly closed and his heartbeat disappeared.

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