The Things You've Missed

Your daughter will be 15 this year

Do you know how much you’ve missed?

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You missed the first day of Montessouri School.

You missed the straight A report cards.

You missed her first dance.

You missed the first kiss,

You missed the first time she said,

"I love you", to a boy.

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You missed all her performance-all of which,

it seemed, had been practiced to perfection

with the mere hope that, you, her daddy would see.

You missed all her cheer competitions.

(and you don't even know...she is so good).

You missed going bowling

-which she would stomp you in-

and watching her win with every strike of the pins.

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You missed your chance to see her grow

from that newborn with a crooked nose,

into a woman, that with her mere presence,

alights each and every room.

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You missed your chance to have

her crawl upon your lap, after a long hard day,

just to whisper in your ear, "I love you, daddy dear."

You missed her dancing to her favorite song,

while she sang perfectly along.

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You missed her first heartbreak,

drying her eyes and holding her tight,

...the chance to tell her, "everything will be alright".

You weren't there to hold here hand

when she had to attend the funeral

of her best friend.

-

Through all the years her mom lie ill,

she stood all alone, only surviving through

her own great will.

-

You weren't around, you didn't call,

It was her you never picked.

You missed her birthdays, you missed the holidays.

You missed apologizing to her

when you were the reason she was crying.

You missed making excuses

when you were the one she was accusing.

You missed picking her up every single time

you...knocked her down.

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You made her feel unloved, you made her feel sad.

You made her heart ache and now, it's too late.

Without a sound, without a tear.

without a doubt and without a fear...

She decided on her own,

with you she'll never have a home.

In a way her mom's glad,

cause now there's a chance for someone else...someone real...to be her dad.

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