He fell asleep against the doorsteps where he waited for her. It was morning now, and she quietly opened her door to collect the paper at the edge or her driveway. As she stepped outside she tripped on this man’s sleeping figure, resulting in scabbed hands and forearms.
“How wonderful it is to see you!” he said in a daze, “I’ve been waiting all night for you to come out.”
She backed up, slowly reached down to pick up the paper and asked, “Who are you?”
“That doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is who I’m about to be.”
“Please leave. I don’t feel comfortable around you.”
“Listen, darling. I’ve come to be your father.”
“What are you talking about? My father is inside sleeping.”
“I’ve been watching you ever since I saw you at the market last month. Every time I see you, your father is never around. Please, give me a chance. I could make you so happy.”
“I’m going inside. If you don’t leave in the next five minutes, I’m calling the cops.”
During the next seven days the man was nowhere to be found. Although she began to notice things only he could be involved with such as every picture of her father was replaced with his, and the pictures with the two of them together had her father’s face burned out of them. One day she walked into her father’s bedroom to see that his bed had been slept on, but he’s been out of town on business.
She left a message on her father’s cell phone saying that she’s staying at a friend’s house until he gets back because she doesn’t feel safe at the house alone. It’s funny how he didn’t answer her call. She emailed him to see when he’s coming back. Ten minutes later she received a notice saying that his email address is non existent. She called his office at work, but the phone was disconnected.
One week later she decided to return home. The man whom she found sleeping on her porch was sitting on the couch watching the history channel with her father’s slippers on his feet, “Well hello my beautiful daughter. How was your day?”
“What did you do to my father? And why are you in my house? What did you do?”
“Calm down, darlin`. Here, let me go get your medicine,” he left the room.
She picked up the phone and dialed 9-1-1. As she explained her situation of a man impersonating her father, she walked towards the fireplace. The pictures of her were arranged from youngest to oldest just as they’ve always been. The operator told her the police were on their way. She hung up the phone and walked towards the door. The pictures that hung on the wall from past vacations and celebrations displayed her sweet smiling face with her fath---no, the stranger’s arm around her. She frantically searched the room trying to located pictures of her father, even the ones with his face burnt out of, but there were none.
“Honey, what are you doing? What’s wrong?”
“The cops are on their way. Don’t come near me.”
He slowly walked towards her, “Please take your medicine, and you’re feel much better.”
“If I take it will you tell me what you did to my father and just leave?”
“Yes, dear. Anything you want. Be sure to drink a lot of water.”
She swallowed down the two pills. He walked out the door. She locked the door and took a nap. He went around the block. When the cops came he told them the current circumstances. They left, and he returned to the couch. Hours passed. She came down the stairs and saw the man on the couch, “Hello, daddy.” |
Submission Name: Randomly In Love
