It's Never Too Late.

"Meredirth, honey can you help me clean the house?" Asks Cathleen. "Yes mommy coming." While helping her mom, Cathleen sees that her daughter's eyes are swollen up. She stops and asks her if something's wrong. Meredith replies, "Daddy doesn't love me right? Since the day Noah's born he doesn't even look at me momma." Cathleen is shocked hearing such words from a 5 year old. Arthur walks in the room and says he finally got a job. Cathleen leaves Meredith and jumps into Arthur and hugs him. Arthur was jobless since past few months and finally got a job but the sad part was that he had to leave his family and go to Australia. 

Cathleen was already prepared for this to happen. Noah was just a 3 year old baby and wasn't even told about it but on the other hand, Meredith was broken down hearing the same. They booked the ticket for Arthur the same day and started packing for him. He was about to leave the very next morning. 

Meredith always knew her father never loved her and so she let him go knowing that he might not comeback for vacations too. Soon after Arthur left for airport, Cathleen went to Meredith and asked, "Don't you feel bad that your father left? Do you hate him so much Mary?" 
To this she replied, "No, I don't have any feelings for a person who does not love me. Don't you remember how badly he fired me for breaking that stupid glass mommy?"
"Oh honey, you're mistaken. He did not fire you for breaking the glass. He fired you because he was worried about you. You've always hated your father for not loving you but have you ever shown some sympathy for him? Just give it a thought honey." Said Cathleen. 

Meredith's eyes were filled with tears. She asked her mom to take her to the airport. Arthur was just about to enter the airport when Cathleen called and stopped him. Soon they reached the airport. Arthur was angry at Cathleen for stopping him and he asked her why did she do so. She called Meredith from behind her. Meredith went to Arthur and said, "Daddy, I love you and I'm really very sorry for my behavior towards you. I hope you come home soon so that we go on a holiday together." And handled him a piece of paper and told him to open it while boarding the plane. Arthur kneeled down and hugged Meredith and said, "I'm sorry honey for not paying enough attention to you and I love you too, my little princess." Saying this, Arthur left for his departure. 

Arthur took his seat and opened the paper. He saw a drawing of him giving a piggyback to Meredith and, 'MY DADDY'S MY HERO' written above the drawing. His eyes filled with tears of joy. 

Meredith and Cathleen came back home and saw Noah sleeping on the bed. They sat on the dining table and switched on the T.V set. Cathleen told her to change the channel  and told her to play some News channel. The headline was, "PLANE CRASH ON THE RUNWAY." Cathleen saw the name of the plane and suddenly burst out into tears saying it's the same plane which Arthur had to board. She carried Noah with her and Meredith and rushed to the airport. They told the officers that they wanted to enter the area and told him that her husband was also injured in the crash. They identified Arthur's  dead body with his clothes and sat beside him him. Cathleen started crying even more. Meredith saw something in his hand. She took it out and saw. It was her drawing in his hand in which he had written, 'My little princess.' 

Meredith was happy that she could express her love for her father before she could realize, "It's too late."



                                                            -Shriya.