“Don’t leave me—no—no!”

She grabs his arm, trying to pull him back, but he keeps walking. His back is pencil straight; his hair, parted right down the middle. It’s a lovely shade of chocolate, she thinks—just like his eyes, rich and dark. Even though she follows him, she can feel those eyes on her. They’ve always been on her, watching her, making sure that she did her best. That she excelled at everything she put her mind to. After all, success leads to happiness for the both of them, to blitheness and ease. Not to mention how many doors it opens! And all of those doors, she has reached because of him. Like any smart man, he’s benefitted from them, too; after all, shouldn’t good things be spread around to as many people as possible? It’s only fair, considering how much he’s done for her.

But she’s done good things for him, too. He has to know that. So why is he going?

“Stop! Please, stop! What did I do wrong? Why are you leaving? Stop!”

She tugs even harder until, finally, he turns around. His face is as expressionless as ever; his eyes, still cold as alabaster, so different from their color. He does need to not speak for his order to be shouted: she lets go of him.

“It’s not you,” he recites as if from a script, “it’s me. I have taught you the importance of success; so you should understand that I have found myself unable to reach my full potential here.”

“Why? Am I… am I holding you back or something?” she asks, her lip quivering. “Whatever I’m doing wrong, I’ll never do it again, I promise. I’ll be better—”

“Didn’t you hear me? It’s not you. There is nothing you can do,” he repeats. “I’m sorry. Perhaps one day, you’ll follow in my footsteps and we’ll meet again.”

There is a pause. Then, she whispers, “It’s mom, isn’t it? You don’t love her anymore. You’ve found someone else.”

She has finally caught him speechless. So she continues, “Maybe you don’t love her anymore. Fine. She’s weak anyway. But what about me? Take me with you! I don’t mind living in an apartment, if we have to. I’ll even go to a public school! Just… just take me with you. I don’t want you to leave. I love you.”

Another pause. Then, he shakes his head. He looks her in the eye and for the first time, she sees emotion there. “I’m sorry… Your place is here.”

With that, he turns around. His back is pencil straight; his hair, parted right down the middle. And he keeps walking.

She falls to her knees. “Dad!” she screams, her cries echoing into the vast daytime.