Julian JP Lee

a short story.

On a hot and sultry afternoon, such as today’s, Dylan sat snugly in his lounge chair while his daughter played nearby.

She had just turned 5. The sounds of her playing excitedly with her toys drifted through the hallway while Dylan read the day’s news.

“Papa!!!” 

Dylan’s daughter had come up to his side without him even realising it.

“Papa, do you love me?”

She had leaned in close now, her voice soft, barely a whisper. He held her gaze steadily, slowly reading those big eyes of hers, dark as the night.

“Yes, darling. Of course Papa loves you. You know that right?”

Abashed at hearing his answer and so embarrassed she had asked, she turned away, looking dazed and lost.

Getting up from his chair, Dylan knelt to meet her gaze.

“You know I love you, darling? You know I do everything I do for you and Momma right?”

Red from blushing, she turned away again. Her lips were pursed in a sad pout.

“Papa, I know you love me. But I only feel it when you look at me when I’m playing.”

At last, Dylan understood where she was coming from. He set aside his phone and watched her play.