Fragments of Eternity

Days went by, neverending cycle of time.
She grew older, day by day, becoming more aware of the world around here as time went on.
First words, first steps.
First pair of big-girl underwear after potty-training, first bicycle, first day of school.
First crush, first dance, first date.
First heartbreak, first fight with best friend.
First time away from home, off to college.
He watched from the shadows, always in the darkness of night or during a rainy day, sheltered from the sun's harmful rays. Her favorite park, he was there, always just a figment from a distant memory.
After all, he had been gone since she was very small, hadn't he? She could recall a voice, a blurred image, and a photo, but no more. Yet always he was there, watching her, leaving her small gifts for her birthday, Christmas, or just to cheer her up. Always it was by the largest tree in the park, an oak tree as old as time itself, its branches reaching high for the Heavens.
He remained obscure, deep within the shadows on the other side, listening silently as she poured out her heart to him--the day's happenings, fights she'd been in, crushes she had, problems, or her dreams and fantasies.
From a young age, she had always wanted to be a teacher, a Kindergarten teacher. Her dream man would be someone caring, kind, yet strong, to protect her.
He also had to be someone who would listen to her.
And in his silence, she always found the answers that she needed, the comfort that there was someone who cared outside of her small world.
Yet there came a night when she would visit for the last time, whispering softly to that tree that she was leaving. Off to college, to study to become a teacher, as she had always wanted to do. He listened, head bowed in the darkness of night, though he said nothing.
And in that silence, she knew that he was wishing her well, that he had faith in her.
Years passed. She grew, prospered. Married, had children. Worked in the environment that she loved, the warm colorful world of a Kindergarten teacher. Soon she forgot all about the oak tree and the silent stranger who had always been there.
He, too, disappeared.
Her children grew up, married, went away, had children of their own. She grew old, retired. The death of her husband, and she was too old to live on her own, hospitalized to die. Her family loved her, always surrounding her with love and kindness.
Yet, in the nights when she was alone, she would allow her mind to wander back...Back to her childhood, back to the oak tree. She would wonder who it was that had cared for all those years, the silent stranger whom she had never seen or heard, yet somehow she had known him all of her life.
Silent footsteps made their way through the quiet halls of the hospital; the staff was asleep or busy so late at night, conveniently stationed elsewhere. They would not be needed, anyway. He was not there to harm the old woman.
He had never harmed her in the past, as he'd watched her grow up, had he?
A slender hand gently pushed the door to her room open, allowing him to enter; he closed the door behind him, to ensure that they would not be disturbed. Dark sunglasses were removed from his eyes as he approached the bed, his long, black coat swirling about his ankles with each step. Stopping beside her bed, he took a seat gingerly on the edge and touched her face.
"Punkin.." he whispered, his thumb stroking her cheek lightly; even in her old age and after so long, the nickname brought her from her sleep as it had always done when she was a small, small child.
The nickname that had always been on the gifts left beneath the tree for her, the nickname that had always been hers.
Her eyes fluttered open and despite the pain of her old age, she smiled up at the face that she remembered from so long ago, the face that had disappeared without a trace one day.
"...Daddy..." He smiled back with a nod before gently reaching out to take her in his arms and hold her, just as he had done when she had been so young. She curled into his embrace, her face buried against his neck, not caring that he had never aged while she was so old.
Some things were not meant to understand.
"I missed you, Daddy..." she breathed out. He lowered his head, nuzzling into her white hair, one hand stroking her back.
"I know...I missed you too, Punkin...Now go back to sleep...I'll be here when you wake up..." He pressed a kiss to her hair as she relaxed in his arms, her eyes closing. Gently he began to rock her, humming a long-ago lullaby.
He left in the morning, before anyone else came to the hospital, and before the morning light could touch him. He left her for the final time, but she didn't need him anymore, for her soul had already gone to Heaven where it belonged.
Back at the oak tree, he cried, cried tears tinted faintly with blood.