Little Inklings 2024

A PROMISE FULFILLED By: Annabella Ciocca ’28 Layla lay in the hospital bed, at 90 years old taking her last breaths. Only the sound of the beeping heart monitor was heard, along with the murmurs and whispers of the nurses. “Dad..where are you.?” her weak voice barely audible whispered. She only had the strength to remember memories with her beloved father, an astronaut who went into space to find a habitable planet, he had promised he would come back. She remembered her 13-year-old self being so blinded by the anger of her dad leaving that she didn’t even say a proper goodbye as he drove away. That was her biggest regret in her whole life. She missed his warm embrace and his reassuring words, “I promise I’ll come back….It’ll only be a few years..” he still comforted her even though she was ignoring him, enraged. She knew that he did it to save her, save the planet as oxygen was running low, but hate enveloped her. Over time, she clung to those words with desperation as the years passed, year after year, her hope dissipated. It seemed like his promise was such a distant dream. She would send him video messages, only for there to be no response, as if they got lost out there in the universe. It had been 80 years since she’d heard from him. She knew that time worked differently out there, in the stars, he had mentioned how they would be on planets where 1 hour is 15 years back on Earth. It disturbed her that he might have only spent 8 hours out there through his point of view. If he were to come back he would look the same as 80 years ago. It gave her a glint of hope, maybe her father still existed out there. The thought made her eyes glossy and a single tear trailed down her face. Sure, her son, daughter, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren were all there visiting her, but she only wanted to see one face in her final moments…...her dad. Almost like a mirage..the room went completely silent. They moved to the side allowing her to see the cause. She saw her dad in the doorway, only his silhouette visible. “Dad..?” her voice cracked barely a whisper as tears fell. Her dad took his soft young hand into his daughter’s old withered one. “I’m here Layla, I promised I would come back.” She smiled seeing his face; it hadn’t changed a single bit. She gently squeezed his hand with the last ounce of strength she had. “No parent should have to see their child die...” She closed her eyes for the final time with a smile. 28