Don't lose hope (you never know what tomorrow will bring) -- Spring 2016

Dahlia and I had been separated since Christmas time.  And the smaller treatments that the hospitals were doing here in Australia were not working.  I was going to need to go to England to St. Mungo's -- they had an excellent program for things like this.  I just did not want to leave my baby girl.  She would be turning two in a couple of months, but Dahlia kept me from seeing her anyways as much as she could.  I went to the flat where my wife -- yes, she was still technically my wife -- lived with our daughter.  I wanted to at least say goodbye and tell her that I was going to have to be leaving.

I did not appreciate her tone.  There was something off about the way she was looking, too.  But I could not exactly pick it out, though.  "I'd just like to speak with you... and see Phoebe.  I am her father after all," I added, hoping that it would add just enough of a kick to make her let me in.

I hated her tone.  Where was the loving wife I had not that long ago?  I sighed.  "I'm coming to say goodbye," I said to her, trying not to be hurt by the look of pleasure in her eyes.  Were my once a week visits with my own daughter that much for her?

I cocked an eyebrow.  "Goodbye?" I asked, hating how he peaked my curiosity.  "Actually, while you're here, I have some papers for you.  I'll need them back as quickly as you can."  I moved away from Graham while he moved towards my daughter to get the divorce papers that he would need to sign.

I did not even have to look at the papers to know what they were about.  I took them from her and just walked past her to our little girl.  While I was fighting to survive, there was no way that I would win custody over Phoebe -- even if Dahlia was not a suitable mother.  In the courts, she appeared like the perfect mother just to spite me.  I picked my daughter up and held her closely to me.  "I love you, baby," I said to her.  "I will make it for you."

I looked over at Dahlia, still holding Phoebe in my arms.  "It doens't appear you were leaving," I said, sort of motioning to everything around me.  There was no evidence they were leaving.  "Just let me have a moment with my daughter before I leave to a different country."

I sighed as Dahlia left the room.  I could not handle her right now.  Our divorce was going to be rough anyways... I was unhealthy and she was... well, she was Phoebe's mother.  I sighed again and held onto my daughter.  Who knew the next time I would be healthy enough to see her?  Or if Dahlia would allow me to without getting any legal involved?  I kissed my daughter's blonde hair.  "Daddy loves you, baby girl," I said to her soflty.

I hated that she practically tore Phoebe out of my arms.  I sighed and signed the blasted papers.  "I will still be able to see her," I warned Dahlia.  I felt like I had to.

I shrugged, rolling my eyes at him.  I did not want to kep his daughter from him... but at the same time, I did not want her to be a part of his cancer fall, either.  "We'll see," I said to him absentmindedly.  I needed to get my fix, too, and he was still there.  It was time for him to go.

I glared at Dahlia.  "That was not a question and I do not need your permission to see my little girl," I said to her.  I could see that my ex-wife was getting antsy and I hd no idea as to why. It was starting to bother me, though.