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Daddy, Don’t Go! Sweetheart, Don’t Leave Us! Dad, Don’t Buy Me Anything Anymore, Not for Me or for Leo. Just Stay Alive with Us! No More Toy Cars, No More Sweets. We Don’t Need Any Gifts! We Just Need You Here! – Six-Year-Old Oliver Clung to His Father’s Leg, Crying Out
“Daddy, dont go! Please, dont leave us! Dad, dont buy me anything else, or for Alfie either. Just stay with us! We dont need toy cars or sweets. No presents! Just be here with us!” six-year-old Oliver screamed, clinging to his fathers leg.
Their mother was sobbing in the bedroom, too weak to stand or come out.
Meanwhile, fourteen-year-old Alfie stood with clenched fists, love for his father battling hatred inside him.
Oliver was just a little boyhe didnt understand. But Alfie had seen how badly his mother had suffered. Just hours before, she had been on her knees, begging his father to stay, at least until Oliver was a bit older. But her pleas had meant nothing.
“Stop it! Get up! Dont humiliate yourself, hear me? He doesnt want you. He doesnt want any of us, so let him go!” Alfie rushed forward and tried to pull his little brother away.
“Son, why are you doing this? Ill still visit, Ill still help. Ill just be living somewhere else. But I love you just as much. We just decided” his father began.
“Who decided? You decided! You think I didnt hear? Mum begged you not to leave. Its uswere your family. But youre going. To some woman! Shes more important than us, is that it?” Alfie fought back tears with all his strength.
***
If his father had hugged him, put the bags down, and said it was all a stupid mistake Alfie would have thrown his arms around him. Forgotten everything. Forgiven him.
Because this was Dad.
The one who had taught him how to fix a car, taken him fishing, played football with him, read bedtime stories. How could he just walk away and erase them from his life? For what?
Oliver was screaming himself hoarse. Their mother wept. Their father looked at them all then turned and walked away, shoulders hunched.
Long after he left, the desperate cries followed him: “Daddy! Dont go!”
***
Life was never the same after that.
Alfie grew to hate his father. He refused to see him, flung back any gifts he brought.
Oliver waited. He sat by the door. Stood on the balcony, staring into the distance.
Their father asked to take the boys out. Their mother wouldnt allow it.
Not that Alfie wanted to. Oliver begged to see him, but they told himDad doesnt want you.
Their mother would have refused child support out of pride, but they needed to survive.
“Your father fell in love. Thats how it goes! The grass is always greener somewhere else. He doesnt want his children. Hes got new ones now!” shed say bitterly.
Alfie listened in silence. Oliver cried.
***
A year later, their father came back. Or tried to. Oliver wasnt homejust Alfie and their mother.
He apologised. Said hed made a mistake. Understood now. He couldnt live without them.
But their mother wouldnt take him back. These were her moments of revenge.
And Alfie wouldnt forgive either. The hurt was still raw.
No one asked Oliver. He was still too little.
***
Years passed. Alfie went into trade. Oliver became a doctor. The older brother had a family now. The younger one cared for their mother until she passed.
Soon after, Oliver decided to marry his childhood sweetheart, Emily.
Before the wedding, Alfie had business in another city and suggested they go together. A chance to clear their heads. They took the train instead of driving, sipping tea as the wheels clattered beneath them.
They didnt argue, got on well enough, though they rarely saw each other. But they were different in natureAlfie was stubborn, impatient, always sure he was right.
He jokingly called Oliver “Mr. Mercy,” telling him kindness was out of fashion.
After finishing their business, they wandered the unfamiliar, beautiful city before heading back to the station.
Near the entrance, Alfie nearly tripped over a man. He scowled, muttering that beggars shouldnt sit where they werent wanted.
The man was dirty, bearded, legless. Then he looked up.
Oliver had already walked ahead when he heard his brother laughing. He turned back.
Alfie was pointing at the homeless man, roaring with cruel laughter. Oliver grabbed his sleeve and pulled him away.
“Stop it! Thats disgusting. You dont know whats happened to him. Its not our place to judge!” he whispered fiercely.
“What? Not our place? Oh, it is. Dont you recognise him? You were too small. But I knew him straight away. His eyesour eyes. Green. Mum always said she fell for his eyes. Wasted, wasnt it? Enjoying the view, you piece of trash? Recognise us, Dad? Didnt think youd see us again, did you? But I suppose theres justice after all. Look at you now. This is for Mums tears. For ours. For everything you did!” Alfie snarled.
***
Oliver couldnt speak, stunned. The man on the ground wept silently, murmuring only, “Youve grown so handsome.”
“Nothing like you, thank God. Shame youre our father. You make me sick! Rot out here, then. This is your punishment. Cry all you want. Wheres your sweetheart now, eh? Left you too? Worthless.”
“Enough! Stop it, or I swear!” Oliver shouted.
Alfie tried to snap backthen gasped.
Oliver knelt. Reached out. Touched the mans dirty cheek, gently.
“Hello, Dad.”
His father grabbed his hand, pressed it to his face, and sobbed.
Who did he see then? Maybe the little fair-haired boy whod clung to his leg years ago, screaming, “Daddy, dont go!”?
His children were grown. Both of them. Men now. And he owed them everything.
Alfie kept raging. Their father stayed silent. He knew he deserved it.
But what shattered him wasnt Alfies anger. It was Olivers kindness. Not a single word of blame.
That silent love tore him apart.
“Come on, lets go. The trains leaving,” Alfie snapped, pulling Oliver up.
“Im not coming. You go. I cant leave him,” Oliver said.
“What? This waste of space who ruined Mums life? Are you mad? Look at him! Just walk away. For once, Im happy! He deserves this!”
Then Oliver lifted his father into his arms. The man was thin, lightjust strong arms from dragging himself around.
People stared. Alfie was speechless. Their father clung to Olivers neck.
Everything froze.
Alfie cursed and stormed off.
“Son my boy. Forgive me. My legs almost froze that winter. I missed you all so much. Tried to come back, but it didnt work. Just drifted since then. Leave me. I dont deserve this,” the man whispered.
“I forgave you long ago, Dad. But Im not leaving you here. Lets get you cleaned up. Im a doctor now, remember? Used to treat my toys with you? My hippoId check his temperature with a spoon. Youd drive us around in your toy car. You were the driver, I was the doctor. Remember? Well sort something out so you can get around easier. Youll come live with methree-bedroom place. Weekends at my cottage, I built it myself. Fresh air, evenings in the garden. Tea.”
Oliver carried him slowly towards the exit. A strong, handsome young man, holding the father whod abandoned him.
Some shook their heads. Said he shouldve left him there, like Alfie.
“Treat others as they treat you.”
Others admired him. Said blood ran deep.
But really, the little boy whod healed toy animals had just grown into a good man. One who still loved his father, despite everything.
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