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Eyes the color of a angry ocean stared blankly out the back passenger side window of the cab, staring without seeing at the passing scenery. A few moments later a fairly large childrens park came into view, and those blue eyes focused. Children ran around the park like mini-indians, but the eyes didnt notice. The car began to by-pass the children�s heaven, the owner of the eyes swiveled their neckto keep the park in view for a few moments longer before it would be left behind forever. As soon as the park was no longer in view the eyes blinked once and that blank stare was returned. Behind those eyes two memories of past times played, bringing tears.

~*~ Flashback ~*~

January 31st, 1986

She was new to the world of roller skates, the feel of the wheels under her feet completly alien to her untill five minutes ago when she had taken her first few rolls. Carefully she moved around on the paved sidewalk, swinging her arms out and around her when her balance, or lack of, called for it.

On a wooden park bench near-by sat her father, his watchful eyes smiling as his daughter enjoyed her first gift of many that January 31st of 1986. It was her fifth birthday and he couldnt wait till he could watch her open the other presents he had gotten her, all hidden away in different places at the house.
He watched as she turned back to wave at him, the bright grin on her face riveling the suns own brightness. Soon that grin changed into a look of pain as he watched the young girl fall to her knees, triping over a crack in the pavement.

�Lia! Are you ok baby?�

She watched throught blurred vision as he jogged towards her, the smile in his eyes gone and replaced with a look of parental concern. She nodded as the first tear slipped down down her cheek. Now he was squatting next to her, examening her scraped and lightly bleeding knee.

�Well girlie-girl,� He pulled a few Barbie print band-aids out of his pocket as well as some tissues. He had anticipated a few scapes. �How about we doctor you up a bit?� She nodded.

�Daddy, I don�t think I wanna skate anymore.� She confessed as he cleaned off her knee.

�Well that�s ok sweetie, but before you give it up, why not give it one more shot?�
�I dont know Daddy.�
�Well you remember when you first started riding your bike right? You feel down and scraped your knee like this?� He looked up at her and she nodded again. �Well remember you got right back on and now what?� He poked her in the stomach and she giggled. �Your a pro!�

�But daddy, this ISN�T my bike!�

�I know sweetie, but you can do this. How about if I walk with you and hold your hadn this time, hmm?� She regarded him for a moment before smiling and nodding, shoulder legnth blonde curls bobbing around her round face. �So are you ready to try again?�

�No.�

�No?�

�My knee still hurts.� She pouted, crossing her arms over her chest.

�Well then,� He began with a smile. �We cant have that. I bet I know what�ll help.� He leaned forward to kiss the injury, bringing a smile back to her face. He smiled at her as he stood up. �How�s that? Better?�

�Uh-huh!� He reached down and helped her up.

�Ready?�

�Yup!�

�Alright then, let�s go!�

For the next hour he helped her to master her skates, and by the time they left the park, she was considered a pro. Just like with her bike.

~*~ End Flashback ~*~

~*~ Flashback ~*~

April 3rd, 1997
The night was dark, the only source of the light the many stars over head. She didnt care thought, she felt dark inside as well. Just hours ago her mother had been alive and happy, smiling at her and promising to be back soon as she walked out the door to go to the grocery. Unfortunatly, she wouldnt be back. She would never be back.

Angelia had been sitting at home, watching a favorite movie with her father when the phone call had come. She had been the one to awnser the phone, frowning when the man on the other end had introduced himself as Officer Robens and asking for her father. She watched curiously as he spoke into the phone, as the color left his face and his hands began to shake. A few moments later the phone was placed back on the coffee table, and he leaned back against the couch, his brown eyes glazed over.

�Dad?� She asked, slightly panicky. Never in her sixteen years had she seen him like that, and it scared her. When he didnt respond she placed a hand on his arm, her voice cracking with her panic. �Daddy?� He finally looked over at her and the dead look in his eyes filled her own heart with fear and dred. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Only a strangled sound. �Please Daddy! Tell me whats wrong!� She pleaded now, tears springing to her eyes.

�Your mother...� He trailed off, the words getting caught in his throat. He closed his eyes and when he opened them again tears were visable. � Angel baby, she�s gone.�

�G..gone?� She stuttered.

Her father had only nodded as the tears fell from his eyes, the words not comming. She stared at him for a long moment, not wanting to understand what he was saying. Gone. Of course she was gone. She had only gone to the grocery store...but she knew. She was gone.

Now it was two hours later and she sat alone on the swings, her eyes cryed out and red-rimmed. Her mother was gone. She didnt want to believe it, but she couldnt avoid the truth. Her father had gone over to the hospital, telling her to stay home. She couldnt do as told, there was just to much of her mother in the house. Insteed, she had walked over to the park, her favorite place in the town of Lise, Mississippi. She wasnt sure how long she had sat out there, trying not to think when she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. She didnt bother turning around.

�Why Da? Why mom and why now?� Her voice was scratchy from crying as she turned to watch him settle into the swing next to. She was shocked by the man who sat next to her. He didnt look like the father she knew. Insteed, he looked years older.

�I dont know Baby.� He awnsered with a shuttered breath. �I just dont know.�

She hadnt said another word. Silently she got up from her swing and steped in front of her father, tears she didnt think she had welling into her eyes. Regardless that she was sixteen and to big to sit in her daddys lap anymore, she carefully lowered herself across his lap. Immediatly the tears started again, and the sounds of their combined greif carried througth the night air.

~*~ End Flashback ~*~

�Are you ok, Miss?� Angelia was snapped from her memories by the voice of the driver. She cleared her throat.

�I�m fine.� He raised his eyes to look at her in the mirror. Annoyed thought she didnt know why, she snapped at him. �Look could you just get me to the airport?� He muttered under his breath before turning back to the road.

Lia brought a hand to her face, surprised and angry to feel her cheeks wet with tears. She had told herself she wasnt going to cry, not over a man who had lied to her for over twenty years. She thought back to just a week ago yesterday, the day he had told her the truth, and her heart twisted at the thought as it had the first time. She remembered the smell and sick feel of the hospital room as she sat by his bedside holding his hand. She remembered the paleness of his normally tan skin and the mix of emotions in his expressive brown eyes.

~*~ Flashback ~*~

�Hey Dad.� She kept her voice soft, not wishing to disturb the quiet of the room. Slowly his eyes opened and she sucked in a breath. Normally they would be sparkling with life. Normally. Now they were a dull brown. Just three weeks ago he had come in for a routine doctors appointment, the kind where they check you over tell you your in good health and then send you on your way. His appointment hadnt gone as planned. He had complained to the doctor about a pain in his chest, and they had had it examened. The result was a bad heart. Without a donor for a new one, the didnt think he would make it another year. Then, just a few days ago he had collapsed at home. Immediatly Angelia had dialed 911 and withen minutes an ambulance had arrived at the house and loaded her father onto their stretcher. She had waited in the uncomfertable hospital chairs for three hours before anyone had come out to tell her what had happened. The news wasnt good. He had been in the hospital from then untill the present.

�Angel-baby.� His strong voice was weak.

�Yeah daddy, it�s me.� She smiled softly. She watched as he frowned, then turned his face away from her towards the wall.

�Please, dont.� He requested with a strained voice.

�Dont what daddy?� She question, eyebrows furrowed. When he didnt awnser she gently placed a hand on his cheek and just as gently turned his face to hers. She was shocked and surprised to see tears in his eyes. �Daddy?�

�Dont call me that. Dont call me something Im not.� He closed his eyes in pain, but it wasnt physical. Now she was more confused then ever.

�Something your not? What do you mean?� She grabbed one of his hands and held it between hers.

�You have to know the truth.� He murummered. She dropped his hand at the anguish she heard in his voice.

�The truth? What are you talking about?� He opened his eyes for a moment before turning away from her once again. �Daddy?� Her voice had risen an octive in her fright and confusion.

�Angelia,� He chest rose with the deep breath he took. She sat quietly, watching as he gathered his courage. In her chest her heart pounded against her ribs. Finally, he contuined. �Angel-baby. When my wife and I got married in Tennasee, we wanted children. We tryed and tryed, but everytime we failed. We went to the doctors and thats when we found out that she wasnt able to have children.� She stared at him as he took another deep breath, her body tense. �She didnt want to believe him. She refused to believe him. We kept trying. Finally one night she reliezed the doctor was right, she wouldnt be able to have children. She was devestated and didnt leave our room for a week. After that week she came out of the room, and she was fine. A few days later she went on a mall trip, and when she came back some odd hours later...she had a little girl with her.� A feeling of dred unlike anything she had felt before ran through Angelia�s body. She resisted the urge she had to jump up and run out of the room, not wanting to hear anymore. She forced herself to stay seated and listen to the rest of what he had to say. �While she was at the mall, she had seen the girl looking in at a toy store window, her mother nowhere in sight. She told me she tryed to help the girl find her mother, but couldnt. Insteed, my wife took her home.� He looked at the young woman next to him with sad eyes. Angelia stood up, her body shaking uncontrolably. �I should have done something then, should have taken you back to the mall to find your mother. But you made Karen so happy, Angel-baby.� Angelia took a step back, away from from the stranger on the hospital bed.

�I...You...you took me.� She stuttered. She had stepped into a nightmare.

�Angel-baby if-�

�No...no dont call me that. Is that even my name?� She questioned, shaking her head. She looked down at the man in the bed, her stomach twisting into a thousand different knots. He reached out to her, his hand shaking. Quickly she stepped back, staring at the offered hand like a venomis repltile. Her eyes quickly flew back to his face, contourted in pain. �I cant...cant stay here.� She didnt say another word, just turned on her heel and walked stifly out of the room, but not before his words reached her ears.

�I love you Angelia.�

Later that night she sat alone in the dark of the house she grew up in. In front of her on the coffee table lay the cordless phone, now silent. An hour ago it had rang and she had awnsered. It was the hospital. At 7:37 Aaron Michael Jaysun had taken his last breath.

~*~ End Flashback ~*~

She looked down at the paper she held in her hand. It was a letter written to her, given to her by the nurse who had attended the man she had called father. Carefully she opened it and read the words on it again.

Angelia,
Memphis, Tennesee. Now go find your true parents.

And that was it. There was a dryed tear-drop by her name, and eraser marks at the bottom. On a closer inspection, she could almost make out the word �Dad�. She refolded the letter as the cab slowed, eventually comming to a stop. They were at the airport. She took a deep breath before stepping out of the vehical, taking her first steps toward Memphis and the truth.