“Mom misses you.” She always ended their conversations like that. Whether they were close enough to earth for face to face conversations, or resorting to stolen texts in between his shifts, she always uttered those 3 words. Leonard could never figure out if she meant them or not. Whether it was well worn phrase that no longer had meaning, or that every time her lips (or fingers) formed those words, she truly believed that her mother missed him. The latter possibility stabbed his heart. He never did for a second. “Truth be told, I miss her too.” The first time he had responded, he had honestly believed those words. He was still hurting at that point, the wound she had inflicted on him still bleeding enough that it was all he could feel. He’d translated that as longing. He’d been wrong. It had taken him months to figure out it was a lie. Years later and the lie had become ritual. Something that created enough guilt to eat away at his heart like a slow acting acid. He lied to his daughter, that alone was despicable. But what was worse that he no longer knew how not to lie. But he had to do it. Jo was too precious to allow lies to defile her. Even if those sins originated form her father. Especially if... Once he had made that decision it became torture. Who was he to take hope from a young woman? Her father. When he had returned to earth after years away he knew she’d be there. When he felt his daughters’ arms engulf him he smiled shakily, drawing in a breath when she initiated the ritual she expected him to complete.
“Mom misses you.” Pulling back a little he looked directly in her eyes. “Truth be told I missed you honey.” He whispered voice heavy with emotion. “Just you.”
Fill: Truth be told I miss you and truth be told I'm lying.
She always ended their conversations like that. Whether they were close enough to earth for face to face conversations, or resorting to stolen texts in between his shifts, she always uttered those 3 words.
Leonard could never figure out if she meant them or not. Whether it was well worn phrase that no longer had meaning, or that every time her lips (or fingers) formed those words, she truly believed that her mother missed him.
The latter possibility stabbed his heart.
He never did for a second.
“Truth be told, I miss her too.”
The first time he had responded, he had honestly believed those words. He was still hurting at that point, the wound she had inflicted on him still bleeding enough that it was all he could feel. He’d translated that as longing.
He’d been wrong. It had taken him months to figure out it was a lie. Years later and the lie had become ritual. Something that created enough guilt to eat away at his heart like a slow acting acid. He lied to his daughter, that alone was despicable. But what was worse that he no longer knew how not to lie.
But he had to do it. Jo was too precious to allow lies to defile her. Even if those sins originated form her father. Especially if...
Once he had made that decision it became torture. Who was he to take hope from a young woman?
Her father.
When he had returned to earth after years away he knew she’d be there. When he felt his daughters’ arms engulf him he smiled shakily, drawing in a breath when she initiated the ritual she expected him to complete.
“Mom misses you.”
Pulling back a little he looked directly in her eyes.
“Truth be told I missed you honey.” He whispered voice heavy with emotion. “Just you.”