You left before the chapters turned,
Before my world began to burn.
A shadow stands where you should be,
A hollow echo haunts me.

You missed the first time my heart broke,
When silent screams were all I spoke.
The tears fell hard; you weren't around—
No steady arms, no solid ground.

Who was there to guide my way,
To show me love and who should stay?
You left me guessing, lost and torn,
A compass cracked, a heart forlorn.

The moments passed—the firsts, the falls,
Empty chairs and distant calls.
Did you wonder? Did you care?
Or feel the weight of not being there?

I cried each night, my heart in pain,
Wishing you'd walk through the rain.
To hold me close, to say you'd stay,
But dreams like that fade away.

I could’ve learned the strength you hid,
The lessons fathers teach their kids.
How to be brave when life turns cold,
Or find the courage to be bold.

But prison walls kept you confined,
While I grew up, I left you behind.
A fleeting visit, a broken vow—
You weren’t there, you’re still not now.

Each time you left, my hope would fade,
You’d promise change but never stayed.
I waited, wishing you’d come through,
But dreams can’t fix what men won’t do.

But while you left, she always stayed,`       
Through every storm, she never swayed.
My mom, my anchor, strong and true—
The one who filled the void of you.

She taught me, love, she dried my tears,
She held me close through all my fears.
For her, my heart is full of thanks,
She gave me strength when my world sank.

And though you left, I miss you still,
A part of me always will.
I’ll take each moment I can find,
To hear your voice, to bridge the time.

I’m still your little girl, you see,
Though you’ve been far away from me.
I’m only twelve, with years ahead—
Plenty of time for words unsaid.

There’s room to catch up, to make things right,
To share my days, to hold me tight.
It’s not too late to see me grow,
To be the dad I’ve longed to know.

And still, the questions linger here:
Did you ever hold me dear?
Or was I just a fleeting thought,
A love you left but never sought?

Though time has carved its painful lines,
I wish you'd seen this life of mine.
The girl you left grew strong, it's true—
But I still ache for the dad I knew.