- I’m Your Daughter!
- I’m Your Daughter!
Michelle
“Haha! I can’t believe the mighty Michez is so out of shape -mocks Abdiel, his tone playful and accompanied by an
amused smile.”
I give him a death glare, but he just exaggerates his reaction, clutching his chest as if my fury were something terrifying.
“Oh, don’t look at me like thaaat!” he exclaims, stretching the last syllable exaggeratedly.
I can’t help but laugh, and the rest of the group does too. I’ve been on the rink for just half an hour, and I’ve already fallen
three times. It’s frustrating.
“You’re like Bambi,” Abdiel finishes mercilessly.
Behind us, I hear Susy’s clear laughter, while Dylan, always quiet but present, stays off the rink taking photos.
“It doesn’t matter, I know Michez is the best in the world,” says Susy confidently.
I turn to look at her and find her gaze full of admiration. That sparkle in her eyes makes me feel good, even after my
disastrous falls.
“Come on, Susy, show Michelle what you can do,” her uncle encourages her.
The girl nods excitedly and starts gaining speed on the rink. I watch her closely and notice that some kids and adults also
fix their eyes on her, intrigued. And then she does it.
With surprising grace, she performs an impeccable spin, impressive for someone her age. A gasp of amazement ripples
through the rink, and instantly, applause fills the air.
“Wow!” I murmur, impressed.
I started skating at about her age. A decade later, I had become one of the best. If she keeps it up, Susy has a promising
future.
She comes running back to us with a beaming smile, her face lit up with excitement.
“How was I?” she asked anxiously, looking at me as if I were a judge about to rate her performance.
“You were incredible. There are just a few details you could improve,” I will tell her honestly.
Susy listens to me attentively, her bright eyes shining with expectation. For a moment, the “nazi,” my former coach, came
to mind. They’re the same tips she used to give me.
“I think you’d be a better coach than me,” comments Abdiel with a smile.
“You’re doing a great job,” I assured him. “Besides, you’re not so out of touch with all this. Take it from “Bambi” herself.”
He lets out a sigh and we all laugh. It’s a light-hearted, warm moment. My eyes drift to the left and I catch Dylan watching us. He can’t hear us, but his slight smile shows he’s enjoying the moment too.
“I think it’s a good time to cut the birthday cake,” announces Susy’s uncle.
Susy lights up with excitement and, before leaving the rink, takes one more spin, enjoying the attention she’s gained.
We head to the table where a small cake is waiting for us, decorated with a candle in the shape of a skater. Susy looks at it with admiration. She settles in front of it, clasps her hands together as if in prayer, and closes her eyes with a deep sigh.
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<72 rm Your Chachter
“Make a wish, sweetheart,” her father says lovingly.
Before closing her eyes, Susy looks at me and then quickly glances at her father.
“I know what I want,” she whispers.
She takes a deep breath, keeps her eyes shut for a moment, and then blows with all her might. The flame flickers for a second before going out, leaving just the echo of her wish behind.
As we savor the delicious dessert, we allow Susy to return to the rink, always under her uncle’s watchful eye from the railing. It’s clear how much she loves skating. Her enthusiasm and skill captured my attention, and a thought crossed my mind: I’d love to see her compete. Maybe she’d like me to be there, cheering her on.
“Give me your honest, professional opinion,” says Dylan, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I pause to gather my thoughts before answering.
“Well… I can say she’s very good. She still has a lot to learn, but it’s obvious she has got her uncle’s talent.”
Dylan nods confidently. I know he agrees with me. After all, his brother was a promising skater, even though he retired
early.
“The problem is my brother no longer wants to train her, and I can’t force him to do it -he goes on, sounding a bit frustrated. Since Cecilia died, he’s devoted himself entirely to Susy, putting his personal and professional life on hold. I
want him to return to work, to grow in other respects… to find love.”
His voice trails off, as if reality just hit him. I can’t help but think how difficult it must be for two men alone to take care of such a small girl. It’s clear they’ve taken good care of her, but even so, raising a child is a huge responsibility.
“So, what are you thinking?” I ask, taking a sip of my drink.
“Well… at school they suggested a skating academy. I want to inquire, and I would like you to come with me. I want you to
see the place and give me your opinion on the sample class. I haven’t told Abdiel yet because I’m worried he might feel upset. Could you come with us?”
I looked over at the rink and watched Susy gliding gracefully, her petite figure moving confidently on the ice. A wave of
melancholy hits me as I think about how she never knew her mother. Even so, I’m sure she will become a great woman. I
know this because her father is an upright man who guides her with love and firmness.
At that moment, a revelation hit me hard. All the mistakes I’ve made with my own family become clearer to me. I realize
that love, by itself, doesn’t correct errors. I was negligent with Candace, and now the consequences of my actions are finally becoming apparent.
Dylan waits for my response with a mix of expectation and anxiety. I know this issue worries him more than he lets on. I
take a moment to think before nodding.
“Of course, I’ll go with you. I’d like to see the place and the sample class.”
His face brightens with relief.
“Thank you. Really, it would help me a lot.”
Susy continues skating, unaware of our conversation. Her joy is evident in every turn and improvised jump, as if on the ice she finds the freedom that the real world doesn’t always offer. As I watched her, I can’t help but think of Abdiel.
Dylan is right. He has dedicated his life to his niece since Cecilia’s death, neglecting himself in the process. Perhaps, without realizing it, he has stopped living beyond his role as her guàrdian.
22 hm Your Daughter!
“Do you think Abdiel will accept the idea of the academy?” I asked cautiously.
Dylan sighs and runs a hand through his hair, a gesture of accumulated fatigue.
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“I don’t know. He’s very protective when it comes to Susy. He doesn’t want her to feel pressured or see skating as an obligation. But I also think it would be good for her to train in a more professional environment. Not just to improve, but to socialize, learn discipline, and make friends who share her passion.”
I can’t help but smile at Dylan’s enthusiasm. It’s clear he cares about his daughter’s well-being, but he’s also aware that he can’t impose anything on his brother.
“Maybe if he sees it as an opportunity for her to grow and have fun, he’ll accept it better,” I comment.
“I hope so,” Dylan murmurs, looking back at the rink.
The atmosphere at the skating rink is cold, but the warmth of the scene compensates for it. Families, couples, and children enjoy the ice, unaware of the concerns that occupy us.
Suddenly, I see Susy approaching the railing with a radiant smile. She’s breathing heavily from the effort, but her eyes
shine with excitement.
“Did you see that? I nailed it this time!”
Dylan laughs and ruffles her hair affectionately.
“Yes, you did it amazingly.”
The girl looks at me, waiting for my opinion. I can’t help but smile at her.
“I see you getting more confident every time. If you keep it up, nothing’s going to stop you.”
Susy smiles proudly and runs back to the ice. Watching her go, I feel a knot in my stomach. Those little interactions, that
admiration she has for her father and those around her, make me think of Candace.
Life doesn’t wait around, and I realize I’ve let too much time pass without trying to mend my mistakes. But is it too late to change that?
I turn to Dylan, who watches me in silence, as if he senses what I’m thinking.
“Are you okay?”
I sip my drink and nod.
“Yes… I was just thinking about something.”
Now’s not the time to talk about myself. Now, the important thing is Susy, Abdiel, and this new opportunity that presents
itself. But deep down, I know this situation is showing me something more.
Ryan
We arrive, and the place is packed with people. We barely managed to find a table a bit away from the rink, the only space available. Blake grimaces as he sits down.
“This place is too crowded. It was a bad idea to come here,” he says, clearly annoyed.
Since the day I mentioned to him that he was rushing with the wedding plans, he’s been in a bad mood. But this time, I’m not going to give in. I’ve noticed a change in Candace’s attitude, and I’m sure it’s due to the divorce issue. Cameron informed me that Michelle’s lawyer is requesting that she be able to spend weekends with her daughter, something I haven’t yet discussed with Candace. I hope she doesn’t oppose it; it’s already hard enough for her not to live with her
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22 I’m Your Daughter
mother
“I’m going skating,” he announces authoritatively before leaving without waiting for a response.
Painer)
“Please, Blake, let’s try to make this more enjoyable,” I asked, but he says nothing and just drinks the drink the waiter just
served him.
Suddenly, there’s a commotion at the rink. A bad feeling hits me, and I immediately get up to see what’s going on.
When I arrive, the scene sends a chill down my spine: Michelle is standing, trying to calm two girls who are crying
uncontrollably.
“She pushed me!” Candace shouts between sobs, her face flushed with anger and tears.
“That’s not true, she pushed me!” the other girl cried back, her voice also broken by crying.
“What’s going on here?” I ask, approaching my daughter, who runs to seek refuge in my arms.
“She pushed me, but Mom defended her!” she complains bitterly. “Mom! I’m your daughter!”
Michelle remains calm, but her expression is one of disappointment and firmness.
“Daughter, I’m sorry. I have failed as a mother by allowing you to become who you are now. We all saw you enter the rink
and push her,” she says in a serene but relentless tone.
Candace lowers her head, silent in the face of the evidence. Around us, there are witnesses watching the scene
attentively.
“Candace, apologize,” I demand, but she only cries harder and refuses.
I turned to the other girl and offered an apology on behalf of my daughter. That’s when I saw the man holding her: Dylan
Morrison. As if fate had a cruel sense of humor, I encounter him again in the midst of this chaos.
“This is the second time your daughter has assaulted mine,” Dylan says in a controlled voice, but with a clear hint of
warning. Just remember that if we act wrongly, retribution will catch up with us at some point. Think about it.
He helps his daughter to her feet, and they walk away, while Michelle watches them with a heavy heart.
“We failed, Ryan. We both failed,” she finally says, regret weighing on every word. We raised Candace poorly, and the consequences are already visible. I just hope that someday we don’t have anything to regret.
I watch her leave the rink and head towards where Dylan and his group are. Apparently, they came together. I feel a lump in my throat when my daughter’s voice brings me back to reality.
“Dad… Mom prefers that girl,” Candace whispers between sobs.
Her words stab at my heart. The truth that Michelle just revealed keeps echoing in my mind. Then, without thinking, I
responded with what I always avoided admitting:
“Just like, because of me, you preferred Blake, isn’t that right?”
Candace looks at me with tear-filled eyes, her childlike innocence still intact, yet there’s a hint of understanding that hurts
- I know she’s young, only ten, but in trying to please me, she did something wrong. She put her mother second, thinking it was the right thing to do.
I just hope it’s not too late to fix it.
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