Here To Stay.

 

It's been 

two months

and 
memories of 
a particular girl and her father

have been 

stirring my heart,
even
now.

The 

unforgettable encounter 

happened at the atrium of a crowded mall.

A Caucasian female toddler 

launched 

a tantrum pandemonium 

so long, persistent and ear-piercing 

every passer-by slowed down

 to spot the nuisance.

All eyes were on the little girl.

Wailing and screeching, 

she blasted on 

full force 

like a 

wounded wild beast 

writhing in 

agony.

Her mother and teenage siblings 

loosely stood by.

Silent 

with lowered heads,

nobody 

touched 

the child.

Perhaps this was 

nothing new 

to them.

Happened 

countless times.

And they've 

run out of tricks 

to calm the tyrant.

Blinking away a few unbearable moments, 

the family 

but 

daddy 

resolved to 

walk away.

Daddy 

stayed.

*

It's 

10 minutes 

now.

Rooted on the same spot, 

the red, wet little face 

raged on 

louder than ever,

as if

to stretch her plea

to the 

ends of the earth

in hope to find

just one soul

who could understand.

Her miniature frame

was starting to 

jolt back and forth

by an 

unutterable grief,

her body was

riddled with pain;

one so complex

she

 could not 

name

 but 

purge forth 

in 

screams for 

relief.

The lean, towering father

 stooped down.

At that moment,

I believed

he was going to scoop 

the messy creature 

up 

and 

flee from their 

embarrassment.

For what grown man

could tolerate such

public shame

by 

a little thing 

he cannot tame?

But 

I was dead wrong.

*

Face to face 

with 

his little girl, 

he said nothing 

but 

watched on

without a trace

of 

impatience.

To my disbelief,

there was a 

peace

 in his 

presence, 

a peace 

beyond 

my comprehension.

His face was 

completely relaxed,

and from it

beamed the

kindest set of eyes.

It was 

soft, compassionate

yet 

strong

with

 a message

for his daughter.

He seemed to say,

'I'm sorry 

you don't understand.

But 

I know 

you're in pain

and

I feel your pain too.

I'm 

not in a hurry.

I'll be with you

through.

I love you.'

It was then
I noticed,


all that time,


the baby girl
looked nowhere


but 
at her daddy.


In all her 
pain,
she didn't
hide 
from the man.


Was it
a 
confidence
that there'll be 
no
rejection?


She was
 totally 
engaged
with him.


The 
grace and mercy
in his posture
quenched
 the tired and thirsty little soul.

*

There was a 

healing 

in the father's

simple companionship.

The admirable man 

didn't speak a word

but

his staying

spoke volumes 

of 

a love

some of us struggle 

to accept.

*

While I have no clue 

what triggered the girl's

 emotional riot, 

which could be a petty matter, 

the child reminded me 

of 

how grownups 

too, 

struggle with 

inner wars 

they 

cannot verbalise.

No, 

maybe we can 

but 

we have no one 

to tell

 because 

if people ever saw 

our 

monsters,

we believe 

they too,

 would 

walk away.

As 

sensible adults 

we prefer to 

play 

safe.

We 

politely smile, 

nod,

walk away.

*

The man

showed me 

there's a place

we can 

run to,

cry,

and

find rest.

He reminded me

what 
love is.

Love 

never walks out 

on you.

You can 

trust

in

unconditional love.

In your 

ugliest,

Love

will love you

even

when you

do not know 

yet,

how 

to love

yourself.

*