Footprint

by Rohan Parekh

“There’s someone there!” My 10-year-old daughter points out the living room window.

“Impossible. Where are the footprints?” I reply.

It’s snowing tonight and if there were anyone out there then there would be footprints.

“But It wasn’t walking. It was floating.” She says.

I laugh. “Okay then. Let’s get you to bed so you’ll be safe.”

As we’re going upstairs she says, “It’s right in front of us!”

“Sure it is!” I grin.

After I put her to bed I go to my own room and go to sleep.

The next day my daughter complains about a headache.

“I feel awful.” She says.

I give her some medicine, which makes her feel better.

My daughter and I watch movies on Sundays and today is no different.

But at night her head starts pounding again.

“It feels like something is trying to break out of my skull!” She cries. “I think It’s inside me.”

“No, don’t say that… you’ll be alright. Just take more medicine.”

She takes more medicine. Even though her head still feels like it’s going to blast open, she manages to fall asleep.

The next morning at breakfast she’s all smiles and laughter. She’s feeling a lot better. After she finishes eating she leaves for school.

I watch her through the window. It’s snowing again. I made sure she wore an extra sweater under her jacket. Sometimes cold weather can trigger migraines.

But then I realize that she isn’t walking… she’s floating.