When Fall Comes

leaves hurried across the pavement, just like how he always hurried back to bed, always as he heard her footsteps coming up the stairs. it's always so miserable outside in fall, that's also when it all started, and now this season makes my skin crawl. i wonder what she would say now, little eight year old me, would she ask me why it didn't happen to the other children, why was it only me? but this was our little secret he would say, and that I'm his special little girl, nobody else got cuddle time with dad on their birthday. so while I sit here, sipping my coffee on a cold, fall day, i wish for little girls to feel confident and empowered, instead of 'special' like they say, i hope that they all get to grow up, without Daddy asking to 'play'