I felt that he wanted to distance me from her.
When my daughter, Kasia, was born, I felt that my life had gained meaning. She was my greatest treasure. I took care of her, supported her, taught her how to ride a bike, comforted her when she cried after her first argument at school. I was not only her father, but also her best friend.
I thought it would always be like this.
Until he showed up.
Adam. The man Kasia loved and for whom she decided to sacrifice everything. From the very beginning, something about him didn't sit right with me. He was too confident, too cold, and when he looked at me, I saw only reluctance in his eyes.
„Dad, Adam is wonderful– Kasia would say when I tried to express my doubts. “You don't have to worry about me.”
But I was worried. Because I felt that he wanted to push me away from her.”
After the wedding, everything started to change. At first, slowly – she called less and less, visited less and less. When I suggested a meeting, she always had an excuse.”
“Dad, we have so much work.”
“Dad, Adam wants us to spend this weekend together.”
„Dad, I can't talk right now.”
But the real blow came one day when I asked Kasia if I could drop by her place.
There was a long silence.
„Dad…” I heard the hesitation in her voice. – „Adam thinks that… maybe we should distance ourselves a bit.”
I froze.
“From what? From the family?” I asked, trying not to raise my voice.
“It's not about that– she began to explain. “It's just… Adam thinks you interfere too often, that you should give us more space.”
I interfere?
For a moment I couldn't get the words out. Was it her decision or his?
„Kasia” – I said quietly, trying to control the tremor in my voice. „I'm your father. I don't want to control you, I just want to be a part of your life.”
„Dad, you know I love you– she sighed. „But Adam is my husband. I have to think about our future.”
I didn't want her to hear my voice breaking, so I just nodded, even though I knew she couldn't see me.
That was the moment I realized I had already lost her.
Today I'm sitting in an empty apartment, looking at photos from years ago – me and Kasia at the playground, at her graduation party, on a walk by the sea. I used to be the most important thing to her.
Now I'm redundant.
And what hurts me most is the thought that I might never hear the words: „Daddy, I need you.”