Chapter 2

Fall of 1999

Sycamore leaves fell like giant snowflakes around us.

“You’re late!” Apolonia screamed.

“I’m sorry honey,” I held onto my daughter tightly.

Perhaps I can beat this. Maybe I can walk her down the aisle one day. We still have time.

“Let’s go inside!”

Apolonia led me to the kitchen with her usual jovial excitement, and I momentarily forgot about the death sentence I had received mere hours ago.

“Look here, daddy,” Apolonia proudly presented the unbaked cake on the kitchen countertop. “Wait a minute,” she ran into her room to change the flour-covered shirt.

“Hello Mr. Apollon,” Hannah greeted me from the kitchen corner. “I just turned on the oven.”

Thank God for Hannah. She was a reliable babysitter and more importantly, she adored Apolonia.

“Hi Hannah, sorry for being late.”

“It’s okay. We haven’t cleaned up yet.”

“It’s okay. I will clean it up after we bake the cake.”

“Do you need anything else, Mr. Apollon?”

Instead of answering, I wiped off the countertop mindlessly.

“Mr. Apollon, are you okay?” Hannah asked in a concerned tone.

I stared at the countertop for a few seconds before responding. “Have you lost someone special to you?”

Hannah thought for a moment. “I can’t say that I have. Both sets of my grandparents are still alive. Why do you ask? Did someone die?”

“No. I just feel like someone special was taken away from me.”

“Why?” Hannah asked.

I began daydreaming.

“Mr. Apollon?”

“Hmm?”

“Why do you feel like you lost someone special?”

I smiled. “I wish I knew.”

“Strange. You look anxious but peaceful at the same time.”

“You’re very perceptive.”

“Daddy! Let’s bake the cake!” Apolonia returned with her favorite shirt. I had seen that shirt many times before but never noticed the printing of a bear holding a blue balloon on it.

Silly bear.