It'd been a month now since Rose showed up. I didn't know when her birthday was but neither did she. So we both agreed to make it the day I found her, or well... I don't know. But she was still the adorable tiny filly pegasus that I've grown to love. Even though she didn't know this, I still showed her the love and care that I could offer. And she accepted it so happily, which always warmed my heart. She was always so happy and cheerful. It made her seem all the more adorable. Even if some days work me to the bone, she's still here, with a bright, warming smile on her face whenever I'm home.
I still remember the day I made her pancakes, how her face lit up just made that funny feeling in my stomach grow. But even though she always seems happy, we do have our ups and downs sometimes. It's nothing really bad, just a few small, short arguments whenever I get home from work. But sometimes I feel like we're an atomic emotional bomb, and someday, it's going to blow, but not this day, or anytime soon.
My train of thought was thrown off by a nudging at my side. I looked down to see Rose, snuggling herself into my side. She had a small blanket wrapped around her. We were once again sitting on the couch together, doing nothing. Rose didn't care though, she always seemed to be happy when she was around me, and I felt the same way with her. But I couldn't bring myself to tell her how much I loved her as my daughter, but I didn't want to make it awkward.
I wrapped my arm around Rose. She happily cooed as I started scratching her ear. Rose seemed to like it when pet her, but she usually doesn't like it when I pet her wings. She nuzzled my side as I continued to scratch. We both liked to nap together on my days off or when I finally got off of work. It was the only thing to do whenever we wanted to kill time. Sometimes we'd watch TV, but nothing good would be on. I looked down at Rose to see that same bright smile on her face.
"Ya know what Rose?" I said.
"What?"
"You are the reason why I'm so happy." I replied.
"Really?" She asked.
"Of course. It'd always been lonely around here and my friends would barely come over, but with you here you seemed to have brightened my days."
Oh my God the look on her face when I finished that sentence was so heartwarming. She smiled brightly as a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
"N-no way! I can't be the reason why you're so happy!" She exclaimed.
"Don't think like that, of course you are!" I replied.
Rose playfully shoved me as we both laughed. Once we finished the urge to tell her how I felt was still stabbing at my side. It was a different version of that small voice in my head screaming at me to tell her. I guess I'd rather be poked than constantly yelled at. Every once in a while, everything's gotta come out. And that while is right now.
"Rose..." I mustered.
"Yeah?"
"I uh... I... I sometimes, like to think of you as my daughter. And I know how weird that sounds, but you being here and enlightening my days has made a funny feeling grow in my chest that can't be relieved until I tell you this, so I'm telling you now, I love you enough to think of you as my daughter, I just don't think you feel the same way to think of me as your father."
My throat was drier than a desert. I didn't dare look at Rose. She fluttered in front of me. I looked up to see a beautiful little filly with a bright smile and tears running down her cheeks.
"I love you too!" She choked before wrapping her arms around my neck and hugging me.
This was a hug that was going to last for possibly hours as the tears I tried to hold back flooded as I wrapped my arms around her. I felt her tears running down my neck and soaking into my shirt. This was a feeling of relief that I haven't felt in years. And this small filly, my daughter, is who made it happen.