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Faith ran.
She raced up the grassy hill.
Tears streaming, she forced her legs to move.

As she hurtled towards the old willow tree standing solitary at the top of the knoll, she willed herself to go faster, faster, faster.

She was almost flying across the meadow as she pushed herself to run.

At last, she dropped to the ground at the foot of the tree.

Chest heaving, she lay there; her head buried in the springy grass, shoulders shaking with sobs as she breathed in the familiar mossy scent of her memories.
She could hardly breathe from running and crying at the same time.

Daddy...
She couldn't hold it in any longer.
She had tried, had really made an effort to be strong.
But now, nothing could stop her from mourning her loss.

Daddy...
Why?
Why did he have to go?
Why did he have to leave them?
Why wasn't he here, when she needed him the most?
But there was no one who could answer her many questions.

Daddy...
She had promised him, promised that she'd look after the family.
She'd promised him that she'd be strong.
She'd held his callused hands in her own youthful ones and had promised him never to cry.
As he had closed his eyes, she'd promised him.
As his breathing had slowed to a stop, she'd promised him.
At his deathbed, Daddy's lil' Faith had promised him the world.

Daddy...
I'm sorry.