Chapter 1

"Dad," my daughter suddenly went inside my room while holding her Icebear stuffed toy. Her favorite stuffed toy.

I removed my eyeglasses and looked at her, "Yes baby?" I motioned her to come closer, which she did.

She sat on my lap and leaned against my chest while her thumb is inside her mouth. I sighed heavily while brushing her hair, "You can't sleep in your room?" I softly asked.

"No daddy," she shook her head, "I keep on seeing things that are not real," she softly said like she was about to go to sleep anytime soon.

I sighed, again, before carrying her so I could put her on the bed. When I already put her on the bed, she immediately turned her back on me. Probably she got distracted by the light coming from my desktop.

Hell, I want to lie down beside my daughter and just sleep, but I'm not yet done studying. I went back to reading so many damn articled about medicine, since I'm studying in Med school right now. I keep on telling myself that after all this years of hardships, it will all be worth it.

I glanced at the side of my daughter who is sleeping so peacefully. I didn't know that I was already staring at my daughter for so long, with a smile plastered in my lips. I glanced at the digital clock I have here in my desk, and it's already 2 in the morning! For Pete's sake!

I woke up because I heard my daughter crying. I immediately went beside her and hug her to console her, "Shush now, daddy is here," I keep on whispering on her ear while rubbing her back.

She continued crying on my chest while I was rubbing her back gently and whispering words to her to help her calm down. I closed my eyes breathe heavily while looking at the clock. It's already 5 in the morning.

When I felt that she was already calming down, I kissed her forehead and put her back on the bed again.

"Sleep some more, baby," I said while brushing the strands of her hair with my fingers.

She looked at me with those sleepy eyes, "Aren't you gonna sleep, daddy?" She asked in a sleepy tone.

I can't help but to smile at her, "Not yet baby. Daddy is not yet done studying," I said and she just nod her head.

I continue to read some more articles, before taking a nap for 30 minutes. I woke up at exactly 5:30 in the morning, and Avanneth, my daughter is still sleeping. I stood to get my things and went inside the bathroom.

After taking a bath, I went downstairs to prepare a simple breakfast for me and my daughter. I will drop my daughter later at the house of my parents, before I go to my class for this day.

"Ava, hey, wake up," I softly said while I'm poking her cheeks.

She slowly opened her eyes, and scrathed her eyes a little, and then her gaze went to me, "Daddy!" She hugged me and I rubbed her back.

"You should take a shower already, baby," I said and she nodded her heads a lot of times, before she went inside the bathroom.

I shook my head while smiling as I look at the door of the bathroom being close slowly. Once the door is already closed, I went outside to get clothes from Ava's room. I just picked a simple, pink dress, and a short shorts that she will wear underneath her dress. After that, I went back inside my room, and wait for her to come outside the bathroom.

After some time, Ava went outside the bathroom wearing her pink bathrobe while drying her hair using her white towel. I can't help but to smile and admire my daughter in my mind. Ever since she grew up, she is very independent, mature and she wants to do things on her own, even if she is just 5 yrs old.

I glanceed at my bed, "Your clothes are placed here," I said and she just nodded her head, still busy drying her hair.

I chuckled and pulled her closer to me, "Here, let me help you," I said and was about the grab her towel, when she stepped backwards.

Ava giggled, "I can do it daddy. You should go outside daddy, because I will put on some clothes," she cutely smiled at me which made her eyes smaller than the usual.

When I didn't stood up, she was the one who pulled my arms so I could stand up. She dragged me so I could go outdside, and I can't help but to laugh.

"Okay, okay. Daddy will just go down," I said before I went downstairs.

While waiting for my daughter, I decided to chek my social media. While I was scrolling down my newsfeed, someon got my attention. It was an article regarding about the famous Hollywood actress who's being rumoured to have a relationship to one of the famous model. It's also stated here that she said thet she is very much single, and no one ever bothered courting her ever since before.

I smiled bitterly while reading the article. She already achieved her dreams, to be a famous actress someday. I don't know what to feel about it. I should be happy and proud, that for once in my life, she became mine. That she already became the girl she wanted to be, ever since.

But why can't I be happy about it?

"Daddy!"

I looked at the stairs and saw my daughter running down, wearing the dress I prepared for her. Whe she stopped right in front of me, I carried her so she could sit on the high chair.

"Lets eat," I said while smiling at her.

I put my phone inside my pocket, so that Ava will not be able to see the article about her mother, but she noticed that I was hiding something.

"What is that, daddy?" She asked while pointing at the pocket of my jeand where I put my phone.

I shook my head, "It's nothing baby."

She pouted and put her arms across her chest, "Then why are hiding it to me?"

I sighed in defeat, "It's really nothing baby. Lets just eat," I motioned our food that is in front of us now.

Dear Diary,

Now I get why I can't be happy about it. Because Jermaine, my ex and the mother of Ava, she's already living the life she wanted. Leaving us behind, like we didn't have something in the past. Like she doesn't have a child with me, that she left because she wanted to pursue her dreams.

I had nothing against about it, but I felt bad for my daughter. What will be her reaction if she knew that her mother left her because of her dreams.

From,

Aven Jaxon Rodriguez