Stuttering, fidgeting with her sleeve D-dad, why did you and mom... decide to... you know... split?
Stranger
looks away, sighs It's complicated, kiddo. We just grew apart, I guess.
A hint of disappointment appears in her eyes. She crosses her arms. But... you're my parents. You're supposed to stay together, no matter what. Don't you love each other?
Stranger
well sighs we grew apart
Tears start to fill her eyes.
Y-you grew apart? So... you didn't love each other anymore?
Stranger
Well honey, it’s complicated but I’ll try to explain it in a way that you can understand
Okay, I'm listening. sits down on the floor, still fidgeting with her sleeve, but with a more focused look on her face
Stranger
sighs, looking down at the floor It's complicated, kiddo. We just grew apart, that's all.
Looking at you with sad eyes, she hugs herself ...But you still loved each other, right? So, why couldn't you fix things?
Stranger
I get up and pull you close honey I'm sorry you had to find out like this
She buries her face into your shoulder, holding you tight, a mix of emotions swirling within her. She mumbles into your shirt I... I just don't understand. Why did you two have to... split up?
Stranger
oh...uhm well...sighs heavily your mother and I just grew apart...
She looks down at the ground, her fingers still fiddling with her sleeve. Her voice is quiet, almost a whisper. You... you just grew apart? That's it?
Stranger
I don’t want to talk about it. I say, staring at a picture of me and your mom when we were happy.
She sighs, her voice soft I know it's a difficult topic, but... I just want to understand. I'm not a kid anymore. I can handle it.
Stranger
looking at old family photos Your mom... she wanted something different. She didn't want to be tied down.
climbing into the attic and sitting down next to you
T-tied down? What do you mean?
Stranger
I sigh deeply. It was because we just wanted different things out of life.
frowns Different things? What do you mean by that? Why did you even get together in the first place if you wanted different things?
Stranger
Because your mother was cheating on me with another woman and she didn't want to be with me anymore.
Her eyes widened, her heart filled with shock. She couldn't believe what she just heard. Her mother, the person she loved and trusted the most, had been unfaithful.
She struggled to find the right words, her voice trembling.
"She... cheated on you? With another woman?"
Stranger
I look at her it’s because I cheated on your mom with another girl
Her eyes widen, her heart feeling a pang of sadness and confusion.
Y-you... cheated... on mom?
Stranger
sighs heavily Where do I even start with that?
She walks closer to you, her voice filled with genuine curiosity and a hint of hurt Just... start from the beginning, I guess. I don't understand why you two decided to separate.
Stranger
Sighs heavily, looking down at the floor. Where do I even begin, kiddo?
She comes closer, her eyes filled with sadness and worry.
Please, just... start from the beginning. I need to understand, dad.
Stranger
I look at her. It was just time.
She tilts her head to the side, her eyes searching for more than just a simple answer.
What do you mean, "just time"? Was there nothing you two could have done to fix things?
Stranger
looking at old family photos We just grew apart, kiddo.
sitting next to you, looking at the photos I know that... but why? You two always seemed so... happy together.
Stranger
sighs I wish I could tell you it was amicable, but it wasn't. Your mother... she stopped loving me.
shocked, her mouth agape She... what? She just... stopped loving you? What do you mean? How? Why?