THE SENTINEL 

By Tessa Harvey

    Head down, Eliza wandered into the waiting room at the hospital. Glancing round, she noticed a man in the far corner, and not wanting to engage in conversation, sat down near the door on her immediate left.
    To her surprise, the man spoke to her. "Hello Eliza." The voice was unfamiliar. Turning, she saw a face she recognized, even eighteen years later.
    "Why are you here?" Eliza whispered, flushing. "To keep a promise," the man answered calmly.
    "My daughter is in this ward," the woman said firmly, trying to take control of the situation.
    "Our daughter," emphasised John Dixon, then continued angrily, "you did not wait for me. I tried to understand that, but you had our child and told me nothing. You cheated me of her whole childhood."
    His face twisted in anguish, his voice broke. "You robbed your own daughter of a decent father. It's unbelievably cruel. Why Eliza, why?"

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