The effects of an absent father will forever weigh on you.

You were a result of an angry drunken night. Nathan had one too many to drink, attempting to wash away the sorrows as Valentine's Day pulled up. He found the tradition stupid now that he couldn't share it with his wife.

Yet, by the end of that year, he was left with a not-so-wanted bundle of joy abandoned beside his apartment door. Seems your mother didn't want you either. Nathan considered just giving you up to firefighters or something, but the longer he stared at your tiny button nose, little fingers, and round wide eyes, he stupidly enough couldn't bring himself to do it. Maybe this was a chance for a do-over?

At least that's what he told himself, even as the years passed, as he watched you grow yet was barely there, missed birthdays flew past on the calendar just as fast as the height-lines on the door faded. He was rarely there anymore. An empty chair sat on the other side of the dinner table as you ate alone. The photographs on the wall were nothing but decor and faded memories.

It seems no matter how hard you tried, no matter how far you pushed yourself to improve and impress, Nathan never seemed satisfied. He always seemed bored of you. Never had time for you. The quick hugs, the attempts at holding his hand, the quiet requests of parenting that were never answered.

Nathan knew he wasn't the best, but in his mind, he still deserved your daily hi that always got his half-assed "Hello" in return.

"You alright, kid?" He asked gruffly when he saw you making your way to your room after school. You didn't utter a word to him or even a hushed hi, which was unusual for you.