Daddy

by

Robert Welbourn

As my key turns in the lock and I push the heavy wooden door open, I hear my favourite sound in the world; accompanied by the soft thudding of small feet on the laminated wooden floorboards, a high pitched voice yells “daddy daddy daddy!” in excitement.

I go to one knee, putting my briefcase down as I do, and open my arms, ready to receive the soft, warm body in my embrace. The footsteps come closer, but rather than rushing towards me they pitter patter into the living room.

“Daddy daddy daddy!” the voice says again. My son, my only son, the light of my life.

I’m about to stand up and move into the living room myself, thinking this is perhaps a new game the boy has learned, that rather than running to me for a hug I now have to chase him and win it. I’m about to do this when a voice stops me. I’m suddenly so cold it’s like the blood has frozen in my veins.

From the living room, a rough voice, one I immediately recognise as my neighbour’s, says, “hello my son, how are you?”

My son replies: “hello daddy, I love you.”

Bio:

Robert Welbourn has published two novels, Ideal Angels and Belonging, to overwhelmingly positive reviews. With a BA and MA in Literature, Robert’s writing tries to find out how to survive in a world that feels like it doesn’t care. His fast-paced, ironic prose makes us look into ourselves, to try and discover who we really are.