The Truth Part 1

          Christmas morning 2007, I ran to wake up my four year old sister, Paige. Together, we ran down the hall to my parent's bedroom only to see just one person laying in bed. We stood there, confused, while listening to my mothers silent sobs.

Photo taken from https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/
relationships/family/dilemma-
my-son-doesnt-want-to-marry-the-mother-of-his-children

          It has been six years since that day, and I haven't see my father since. However this Christmas morning, my now ten year old sister and I ran downstairs to the living room, knowing my mom would be sitting on the couch and drinking her coffee, while she waited for us to wake up.
          "Merry Christmas!" she cheered.
          "Finally, the most wonderful day has arrived!" Paige squealed.
          My mom and I exchanged glances that asked, "Remember when this day used to be even more wonderful?"
          Paige was still young so she had a no memory of that awful day, but I was eleven and I remember every little detail, even making Paige Mac and Cheese to let her know everything was alright when it really wasn't.
          We opened our few presents and then gave our mom hers. She told us not to get her anything, just like every other year, but we never listen. This year, we decided to make her something instead of buying her a gift. We made a time line of our lives which included the days my sister and I were born, when our cousins were born, communions, confirmations, even that Christmas morning when everything changed. At first, we didn't know if we should include it, but we knew we had to. The day our father walked out on us changed our lives forever. If it never happened, who knows what our lives would be like. Would we be one happy family or would we be falling apart?
          She began to cry instantly as she looked at the pictures and events. We wrapped her in a hug as she cried once again on Christmas day, but for a different reason this time.
          "I am so proud of both of you. You two have been so strong your whole life, and you don't let anything stop you from living life. I love you both more than you will ever know," my mom cried.
          "We love you even more mom," I responded.

Photo taken from 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/3381

21884509390785/

          Paige and I went to get changed so we could go over to my cousins house for lunch. Christmas used to be celebrated at our house, but six years ago that all changed. On the drive over to my cousin's, I couldn't stop thinking about what happened, even though it was so long ago. It's always on my mind no matter how hard I try to think about something else. The Christmas Eve before he left was no different. He didn't act any different or say anything. My whole family went to church then we went out to eat. He even talked about eating all of the food we usually make the next day. He talked about it like he was excited for tomorrow. Maybe he was excited to leave us. Kids I know that were in a similar position have found out something about their father, but I still know nothing and in six months I will be graduating from high school. I don't want to walk across the stage without knowing why my father has no desire to see me on one of the biggest days of my life.
          I have no idea where he is. If he's with anyone else. I haven't talked to him, seen him, or heard anything about him since that day. I don't think my mom even knows anything about him nor does she want to know. I've been thinking about trying to find him, but I have no idea where I would even start. Not so I could reconnect with him, but so I can try and find out the honest reason as to why he left. I make a promise to myself. When I get home I will look up William Christopher Keany and see what I can find.