Her cheeks were as pink as her dress, blotched with red that matched the little bows that tightly held her blonde hair up in two ridiculous pony-tails that resembled palm trees. Her mother did the dog's hair like that as well. Jonathan always wondered how someone could want a second Maltese instead of a daughter.

Was he being unfair? Probably. It was something he slung at Marie as their last fight as a married couple wound down. That fight he'd carried on with such spirit convinced there would be break-up hate sex, but that shot at her parenting skills effectively ended any possibility of that.

He thought about sending a card, but whenever he stopped by for his weekend visits he'd see the child dressed like a wrapped piece of candy and feel a new resolve to despise her mother.

The girl had her mother's indesiciveness as well. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. To were they wanted to go, what they should do, what ice cream flavor. It would only be a matter of time before that became whatever.

He took her on a walk today. It was quiet. She seemed disappointed and he felt so as well. That is until the insect circled, a dragonfly as loud and as agile as a Blackhawk Helicopter. She cried and ran in circles.

Jonathan held out his hand, it landed on his finger.

For one moment she stood, her mouth a pink circle, tears shining on her cheeks. Her pale eyes shone, however, no fresh tears were falling. And when the dragonfly flew, leaving only the itch of its touch behind. She clapped her hands.

Do it again daddy!