Snippet

The father watched his only daughter climb out of the car and walk down the cement pathway lit by ankle high solar lamps stuck in the flowerbeds that lined it.  She walked down the path to the unfamiliar doorway that the father did his best to avoid.  Her backpack of school books and homework was slung over one shoulder and her duffle bag of her gym clothes, soccer gear, and other necessities swung from the opposite hand. 

She reached the bottom step of the porch and turned around to wave.  The father felt a squeezing pain and caught a breath.  He was glad he was in the car so she couldn’t see the tear that had managed out of the corner of his eye.  He waved back at her and turned the key in the ignition to drive away before the woman that was now a stranger opened the door to let her daughter in.