Dad's House

The story revolves around a person who has been estranged from their father since childhood. The father left the family when the person was young and they had limited contact as they grew up. Despite their efforts to reconnect, the relationship remained strained and eventually, they gave up trying. The person now in their twenties occasionally visits their father's house secretly to watch his life unfold through the kitchen window. They have been placing reminders of themselves in his backyard and even posted their graduation photo through his door. This has become an addiction for them, and they have been doing this more often lately.

One night, the person paid a visit to their father's house twice. During the second visit, they were frozen in place, unsure of what to do as the father walked towards them. They were relieved when he only went to the bin and returned inside. However, this incident sparked a sudden idea in the person's mind, a longing feeling to go inside and be with him. They sneaked into his backyard and entered his kitchen quietly, unnoticed. Upstairs, they heard a baby crying and saw a silhouette making their way towards the baby's crib. The person dove beneath the kitchen window and waited as they heard the clatter of dishes as someone prepared a bottle for the baby. The noise stopped, and they heard footsteps leading away from the kitchen, but the light stayed on.

Curiosity got the better of them, and they looked through the kitchen window to catch a glimpse of their father's other life. They saw the glitz and glam of his new kitchen and became angry at how different it was from their own house, which was falling apart. They stood gawking through the window for what seemed like ages before they could hear footsteps coming down the stairs again. They waited until the last minute to duck beneath the window and managed to catch a small glimpse of their father, who now looked aged and tired.

The person waited for what seemed like an eternity, holding their breath, before the kitchen light flickered and then went out. They took this as an opportunity to peep through the window once more, only to see their father looking straight at them. The person was terrified, unsure of what to do, and stayed there until morning when they were able to sneak back out of the house unnoticed.

The incident left a profound impact on the person, who realized that they had been obsessing over their father's life and had been neglecting their own. They understood that their father had moved on and started a new life, and it was time for them to do the same. The person felt a sense of closure and acceptance, realizing that they could never get back what was lost.

In conclusion, the story depicts the consequences of unresolved emotional trauma caused by a strained relationship with a parent. The person's obsession with their father's life only served to reinforce their pain and sense of rejection. However, it also helped them come to terms with their father's abandonment and allowed them to move on with their own life.