R7

Innocence

By Rosehill

So I've finished packing now. Jedda must be ready, too. This will be the first time she'll leave Bangala. Maybe I should have sent her to school earlier but… well, I was heartbroken when her mother died and I decided to keep her with me all the time. This may have been selfish but I guess I can't change the past.

When I'm entering her room, she's kneeling in front of her bag, holding her old rag doll. She must have sensed my presence because she says:

"I'm nearly finished."

She still hesitates. Should she bring her doll with her or not? She glances at me and I say:

"You're too old to play with toys."

She nods and puts the doll away. I can't help noticing how much she looks like her beautiful mother. Then I get worried. Nobody ever told her about her good looks; the Bandar treat her like a special person only because she's the Phantom's daughter and will have to assume huge responsibilities one day. She's trained in combat sports and can use a gun as well as I can but she's completely clueless about boys and dating. Now she's going to meet teenagers who might be stunned by her beauty and want to do… well, anything with her. She's not prepared. They might break her heart. And she's still so naïve, so innocent… what can I do?

"Jedda," I say slowly, "there are things you need to know before we leave."

She sits down and nods. I sit down too and she asks:

"Will it take a lot of time? These gentlemen are waiting."

I shake my head. It's nearly creepy, this athletic teenager who moves and talks like a little girl. I don't know how to break the news.

"Jedda, daughter, I wish your mother was still among us. She should be the one who tells you…"

"Oh, don't worry!" she laughs. "I already know! Soala told me!"

Soala is the Bandar medicine woman. She acts like a bit of a substitute mother for my Jedda. Five years ago, she told her about the changes she had to expect at puberty and thanks to her I didn't have to face some awkward situations.

"She told you?"

"Of course. Everyone knows how babies are made."

She must have watched animals doing it. The problem is, humans are not animals. Jedda's still so innocent, she might fall hard for a prince charming that would promise her the moon and then dump her once he got what he wanted.

Then I realize that I won't be able to protect her forever. I taught her everything I could but now she'll have to learn by herself and make her own mistakes. She'll never become a good protector if I carry on sheltering her. I guess it's time for me to let go.

"You know," I say slowly, "things will be different in Central City."

"Different? How?"

"Completely different. I know you can cope with it."

"Father, I don't understand."

"Yes, you do."

She looks puzzled for a moment, and then she hugs me. I hug her back. I wish I could tell her how much I love her and how I'll always be there for her but I just can't. I'm the silent type, that's all.

"Well," she says, "they must be waiting for us."

I loosen my hug and she gets up, wiping a tear. It looks like she feels her childhood is fleeing away. What can I do? Nothing, of course. I'm just her father. I can't protect her forever.

"Let's go," she says. "We have to. They need us…"

----------

Article

Author