The Day Our Promise Breaks

Charles watched the video, his eyes fixed on Charlie's tear-streaked face. She had just gotten over a fever and was still looking pale and weak, leaning into Evelyn's arms while crying her heart out. She insisted it wasn't her who pushed Sandy but that Sandy had pushed her, leading to her fall into the pool. Charles watched Charlie in such a state and found it hard to doubt her and accuse her of lying.

But did Sandy push Charlie? That seemed impossible! Sandy adored Charlie. She was the one who had eagerly asked to meet Charlie and even brought it up to him herself. "Daddy," she had said, "I just came back and don't have any friends. Mom told me I have a sister named Charlie, and I want to be best friends with her. Is that okay?" She had puffed out her little chest like a grown-up and promised, "Daddy, don't worry, I'll take good care of Charlie. I'll share all my new clothes and Barbie dolls with her." She was so excited and so eager to be friends with Charlie-how could she have pushed her?

Just then, Charles' phone rang. It was Sandy. He paused the video and answered, "Sandy."

"Daddy, don't forget to pick me up today, okay?" she reminded him.

Hearing Sandy's little reminder, Charles recalled her call from last night, asking if he could pick her up from school. He felt a pang of guilt about the whole situation with Sandy. He heard her cautious voice and immediately promised to pick her up.

"I haven't forgotten. I will be there," he assured her softly.

Perfect, he thought. He could also ask Sandy about what really happened with the pool incident.

"Oh, yay! That's awesome, Daddy. I'll wait for you." With Charles' promise, Sandy hung up, a wide smile spreading across her face. Her daddy was really coming to pick her up. Her mommy would be thrilled, too!

...

When Charles arrived at the preschool, he was five minutes late but just in time for Sandy's class dismissal.

"Charles," Dahlia called out as soon as she spotted him.

He walked over, standing beside her. "How's grandma?" Dahlia asked, concern lacing her voice. "She hasn't woken up yet," he replied.

"Don't worry, grandma will be

alright," she said, holding his hand in a comforting gesture, though her thoughts were far from kind. 'That old woman,' she thought bitterly, 'it'd be better if she just passed on. As long as she was alive, she was a ticking time bomb.'

"Yeah," Charles murmured, glancing at Dahlia's tired face but not withdrawing his hand.

Sandy, standing on her tiptoes in the lineup, scanned the crowd eagerly. When she finally spotted Charles, her face lit up with a sweet smile, and she called out, "Daddy!"

Proudly and excitedly, Sandy turned

to her classmates and proclaimed, "See, that's my dad!" After her triumphant declaration, she waved goodbye to her teacher and dashed into Charles' arms. "Daddy!" she squealed.

Charles scooped her up and carried her towards the car under her classmates' watchful, envious gazes. Seeing their looks of admiration and her mom's gentle smile, Sandy hugged Charles even tighter.

Once they reached the car, Charles settled Sand into her booster seat. Instead of going to the driver's seat he joined her in the backseat. He looked at Sandy seriously and said, "Sandy, I want to ask you something, and it's important to be honest."

"Daddy, Mommy always says lying is for bad kids, and I don't lie," Sandy replied without hesitation.

Pleased with her response, Dahlia gave her an approving smile.