Rowan

"What was the trigger?" Sofia asked me calmly.

I'd passed out last night before Sofia even had time to reach my location and luckily, she had a spare key of her car which made things a lot easier. I'd been shot with a tranquilizer and put to bed. The date, the break up, Alana screaming at me, it all seemed like it had happened years ago and not just yesterday.

I felt so ashamed of myself for how weak and vulnerable I'd been. The last thing I wanted was for Sofia to think I was unstable enough to stay in this place longer. With the way I was going, I knew she would issue me another ticket to hell hole.

"Rowan!" Sofia tapped the ballpoint pen on the table. "I want to know what happened yesterday."

I ran my hands through my hair. "I broke up with Alana."

"You what?"

"I broke up with her." I repeated.

When I glanced up, her icy blue eyes bore deep into mine. I've had people in the past, students and co-workers alike tell me that I had the ability to terrorize by a mere glance but Sofia wasn't looking away or playing with her kerchief which reminded me who was the boss here. Clearly, I wasn't. I looked away when she'd possibly bored smoke holes into me.

"In my career of twenty-two years, I've never seen a case like yours. I fail to understand you, Masters. The more I try to figure out what is going on in your mind, the more I'm baffled." She narrowed her eyes at me. "I thought you said you loved her."

"I do. More than I've ever loved someone and I want what's best for Alana."

"And you think you aren't the best?" she asked, scribbling something furiously on her notepad.

"I'm far from it." I admitted.

"Why did you break up? From what I've heard from you, Alana seems like a responsible girl. I'm sure she would have waited for you if you had told her that you needed some time to figure things out. Breaking up is not a solution."

"So what do you suggest?" I glared at her. "That a few years later, I marry her and then wouldn't it be history repeating itself?"

I was sick of people telling me what to do. This was my life. I had a right to decide what I wanted to do.

"Alana is a student, and if I keep leading her on the way I've been doing then it's not going to end well. She doesn't need to complicate her life because of me."

"You gotta stop doing this. Always making decisions for Alana, that's not right. You need to tone down the domineering streak that's gonna get you in some serious trouble someday. I don't usually use this word, but let's admit it this once. You fucked up big time. That girl was the only one who would have kept you tamed, under control and you just let her go."

"Tamed? What am I? An aggressive Rottweiler?" to that, Sofia chuckled and that made me angrier. She was doing it on purpose. "What do you want me to do?"

"There's only one way to make it right. Call Alana and tell her you didn't mean what you said."

I shook my head. "I can't do that."

"Suit yourself. Remember this, you aren't going to be in this place forever, the time you will walk out of here, Alana would probably be with someone else. Are you going to be okay with that?"

"If that guy would be nothing like me, and if he would make her happy. I'd be glad for her."

Sofia scribbled something in her notepad again. "You're going to regret it, Rowan. Mark my words."

Before Sofia could do some more drilling and cause more damage to my head and heart, there was a knock at the office door. I was more than thankful for the interruption. Megan peeked in and passed me a polite smile, "Surprise visitor for you, Row."

I didn't wait for Sofia to dismiss me as I climbed to my feet and bolted out of the door and towards the stairs, skipping two at a time. I wondered if Alana had come back just to visit me one last time before she returned to Carmel.

When I entered the visitors room, my eyes landed on the angel standing there, dressed in a pink Dora The Explorer t-shirt and mini skirt.

"Minnie." I called out to her. She turned to look at me with wide curious eyes, an expression that told me she was still fighting to differentiate between a fantasy and reality.

"Daddddddddy!" Minnie came running towards me as I went down on my knees to take her into my arms.

"God. I missed you, baby girl." She smelled of strawberry shampoo and soap that smelled like lilies and lavender baby oil. Tears started to form in the corner of my eyes as the feeling of nostalgia began to settle in. I had to fight it back, tell myself, the emotions were spiraling around. Ten more months and probably more of the sufferings were on its way. I didn't want to think of that and spoil my mood at the time.

Her soft little hands clenched my shirt tight. I cupped her cheeks, caressed her hair. "How are you, sweetheart?"

"I'm fine, Daddy."

My eyes shifted towards Dwight, who stood awkwardly witnessing the father and daughter reunion. "Hi." He said.

Dwight had always hated coming to this place for some reason. It was usually our brother Drew who insisted him to come along, and after Drew died, Dwight just visited because it was his duty as an older brother or some shit like that. Dwight and I had never been close, in fact when we were younger, I hardly acknowledged Dwight as my older sibling simply because he teased me and called me names, said I was the black sheep of the family. All of those things were a decade ago. Now we were responsible adults and yet, the gap hadn't filled in somehow.

Something told me he was either insecure or jealous. Drew had been the whole and sole, Gary Masters golden boy, the next-in-line to run the Masters Enterprise. I'd been politely exempted from that race since I was never right in the head to begin with. Dwight had wanted to become an international photographer and he was halfway through helping Drew and fulfilling his own dream, but when his twin died, the throne was automatically transferred to Gary's next golden boy, no questions asked, while I traveled the world, did whatever the hell I wanted, got myself in trouble, received a Masters in Economics, got my girlfriend pregnant and the list went on.

Dwight was envious that I'd been allowed to live my life the way I wanted and he was forced to crush his dreams and to oblige to father's wishes.

"Hey!" I said. "How was your trip?"

"Good." Dwight responded, "Minnie was such a good girl on the flight, it's almost a miracle." There was some sarcasm in the last line.

"What did she do?"

"All I can say is that your daughter is the reincarnation of Lilith." Dwight said.

"I don't believe that." I glanced at Minnie, her chocolate brown eyes which were similar to mine stared back me, so innocent, so pure. "What trouble did you cause your uncle, sweetie?"

"Noffin." She said guiltily.

"Mom sends you regards. Minnie Mouse and I are going to be here for a week so I'll stop by each day."

"Are you here to see me or am I a quick stop between one of your business conferences?"

"Don't flatter yourself, Rowan. Of course it was a business trip, and I though since you are here, why not take Minnie along. You know, killing two birds with one stone." Dwight said, avoiding eye contact. Dwight was a bad liar.

"By the way, you need to tell Alana to keep her teenage hormones in check." Dwight said softy.

"What the hell does that mean?" I asked.

"She's been hanging often with that blonde cat, Gabriel. As long as you're here, I can't guarantee you what could happen back there. And he is one hot beefcake. I'd hit on him if I had a female set."

"Doesn't matter." I sighed. "I broke up with Alana yesterday, so she can do whatever the fuck she wants. And are you even supposed to tell me that? I thought you guys were best friends or something."

I didn't know why I was starting to sound so angry, when it had been me who had ended things.

Dwight stared at me like I was on crack. "What have I missed?"

I narrated him everything that had happened yesterday, Dwight seemed shocked to learn that Alana had flew all the way here to see me. I left out the part where we almost had sex in the car.

"That's a dick move."

"I don't need your opinion. I know I did the right thing."

"So, what do you want me to do?" Dwight asked me.

"I want you to keep an eye on her." I said and felt guilty the second it slipped out of my mouth. "She is still young and stupid. I don't want Alana to get into trouble or find someone who would take advantage of her innocence. God forbid, if something happens to her while I'm gone...I would never..."

"I'll protect her with my life. That's my promise." Dwight said, and the sincerity in his eyes told me he meant it.

"Daddy, I made you a card." Minnie interrupted our conversation.

Minnie reached for the little bag pack, opened it and retrieved a large card. I took the card from her. "I made it on the pane. The lady gave me cayoons."

"Thank you so much, baby." The card was scribbled in colorful round scribbles. "This is such a great drawing. Is it donuts?"

Her face fell. "Flowers, Daddy." She responded as if to say 'Daddy you're so stupid.'

"Oh, yeah. How did I not notice?" Sometimes Minnie's drawings were like a classified code that needed deciphering.

I opened the card and it was decorated with stars and hearts, written in baby handwriting was.

I MISS YOU DADDY. GET WELL SOON.

"This is the best gift ever, baby cakes, thank you."

"You're welcome." Those were the manners I taught her. Her smile radiated happiness.

"Come on, my friends want to meet you." I told her as I picked her up and carried her upstairs while Dwight settled in one of the push chairs in the waiting area. It was television time so most of them were gathered in the leisure room. Everyone seemed very glad to meet Minnie; it almost felt like I had walked into the room with a ray of light. Victor, the heroin addict who'd been sulking in his room for some reason, also joined us in the leisure room. Uncle Hansen, (It's what he insisted her to call him) carried her to his room. She returned with a little creepy eyed doll in her hand.

"Hansen, it's your daughters. You can't give it to her." I turned to Minnie. "Baby, you should return it back to Uncle Hansen. It's his daughters, sweetie."

Minnie's mouth curled into a little pout. "But I wansh."

"It's alright." Hansen waved a dismissive hand towards me. "My daughter visits often, plus she lives just an hour away."

An hour later, the warden said visitation time was over and so I reluctantly took Minnie downstairs with a large rock weighing over my chest. I knew how this was going to play out and yet I hadn't been prepared beforehand. Dwight appeared to be leafing through a stack of magazines. He took her back from my arms before she had time to protest but, she was my daughter, so she saw right through the scheming.

She raised her hand in my direction, reaching out to me once again. "Uncle Dwigh, can I stay wid daddy today?"

"Come back tomorrow, okay, cupcake?" I told her. "Daddy will give you a present."

Minnie's lower lip quickened as she murmured, "I wansh to stay wid daddy." she reached out for me once again with her tiny hands.

"We are coming tomorrow, babe. Promise." Dwight told her.

"Noooooooo....." She smacked Dwight on the face, threw back her head and wailed loudly, loud enough for Megan to come rushing towards inside the room.

I knew he was just trying to be funny with a last minute joke since he was aware how hard this was for me. My heart hurt as he walked farther away, taking my girl away from me. The wailing continued until Dwight disappeared, out of ear-shot.

Megan patted my shoulder softly in that affectionate way of hers. "You're doing this for her, alright? Don't regret it for even one second, son, this is just a phase. It won't last."

"Yeah." I wiped my wet cheeks, avoided her sympathetic stare and took off upstairs. I had some serious manly tears to shed in peace.

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A.N: Hey! Hope y'all enjoyed reading this chapter :) I promise the tears will stop lol.

So what do you guys think Alana and Rowan will do now that they broke up? ;)

If you enjoyed reading, please Vote and Comment telling me what you think. And Happy Halloween to anyone celebrating it and Happy Diwali to all my fellow Indians.