Missing Daddy

         Once upon a time there was a little girl. She was a pretty little girl, with thin blonde hair like silk and blue eyes like the ocean. The vibrant little girl loved to run and jump and play and had many friends.
         One day while the little was playing in the sandbox with two of her friends a big strong man came and scooped one of the little girls up in his arms.
         “Daddy!” The girl squealed in delight as the man took her away. The little blonde girl turned to her remaining playmate.
         “Do you have a daddy?” Her friend nodded.
         “Don’t you?” She shook her head.

         The remainder of the day the little girl thought about it. When she got home she asked her mom.
         “Mommy? Where’s my daddy?” Her mom’s face grew sad as she glanced away.
         “Honey, Daddy’s not with us anymore.”
         “Why not?” Her mom sighed before taking a moment to anser.
         “I’m not sure, sweetie. He’s fighting for us, to protect us, to protect everyone. He may…” The little girl waited patiently for her mom to continue. “He may be in Heaven right now. He went missing and I just don’t know.” The little girl watched as a few tears ran down her mother’s cheeks. She reached her small hands up, wiping them away.
         “Don’t cry, Mommy. Daddy’s always with us.”

         That night the little girl dreamt of a man. The dream was blurry, but she could see a tall, dark handsome man. His hair was cut short, his blue eyes sparkling as they looked down at her. His big hands were warm, and she felt safe in his arms. The peaceful and happy dream was disturbed as a knock on the door woke her.
         The little girl climbed out of bed and tiptoed quietly to her bedroom door. She could hear her mom crying as she drew closer. Once she reached the hallway she could see her mom hugging someone, clinging to them. Then, from over her mom’s shoulder, she could see two blue eyes looking down at her.
         “Kathy…” the man whispered, pulling away from his wife and looking down at his daughter, a daughter he had not seen since she was an infant five years ago. He watched her stare at him for a moment, a mixture of emotions in his eyes. Then realization darted through her little mind as a smiled spread across her lips.
         “Daddy!” She ran to him and jumped up into his arms. He hugged her tightly to him, shocked that she knew who he was. Tears slowly welled up in his eyes.
         “Kathy…how did you..”
         “I dream of you every night, Daddy.”