A Child's Innocence - by Lorraine Rebato

https://Voice.club - I’m an 8-year-old jolly little girl that lives in a jolly little town. Everyone knows Daddy and I are inseparable. Daddy is a superhero and could shapeshift into many roles. In the morning, he would drive me to school and would tell me that as my knight, it’s his duty to protect me from any danger. He kissed me goodbye and said “Goodluck with your study, princess”. In the afternoon, he becomes my butler and serves me juice and ham sandwiches, while he sips his tea. These happy little memories are my childhood. I smile cheerfully — my innocence never knowing conflict, unaware that our time together is about to become echoes of the past.

I woke up early, excited to spend time. However, I saw Daddy outside the window, walking with men in uniforms I didn’t recognize. I quickly ran up to him and demanded an explanation. I clung to his leg, while throwing punches with my tiny hands. My voice echoes, growing louder with each sob. He knelt down to my level, “I’m gonna go somewhere far, a place where the bad guys exist. Daddy must defeat them so little girls like you can continue smiling.” He chuckled and pinched my nose. My tears continued to overflow, so he then showed his pinky finger. The gesture comforted me, linking our fingers, and I held on to that.

Days passed, and I continued to wait for him. As I was watching the news, I saw a man with a tattered body, his face barely recognizable. My mom quickly covered my eyes and dragged me upstairs to my bedroom. A tear rolled down her cheek while she was frantically explaining to me that she just caught a cold today.

The scene horrified me, as if to scare me that something terrible had happened. But it’s okay! He promised that he’ll be back soon. I reassured myself, though I didn’t really understand what I had seen. Finally, I thought to myself, “Daddy will be back, right?” I hugged my favorite plushie and smiled to myself, “And we’ll never be separated again.”

1 Like

Hello Lorraine, and welcome to the Voice Club. This is a heartbreaking story, so gentle and yet so sad. The reader wants to protect the little girl, just as her daddy tried to do. But none of us can totally protect the children from the horrors of the “bad guys”. One of my favorite parts of your story was when the little girl and her father linked pinky fingers. That just about made me start crying.

Your picture was the perfect final touch, and your sweet, gentle voice. I hope you will continue writing stories for Voice Club. You have a gift for writing.

Hello, Lorraine. Before anything else, I would like to welcome you here in the Voice Club. You have a sweet, innocent, and gentle voice.

You know what? Your story makes me sob. I missed my dad so much, but like your protagonist, I am also “unaware that our time together is about to become echoes of the past.” He died due to an accident without saying goodbye. Very well done. I hope to hear and read more stories from you soon.