"I'm coming home late today," Sarah said softly, her voice hesitant. "I-I'm going on a date with someone who asked me out."
Sarah spoke softly, her voice carrying hesitation as she threw a cautious look at her father, uncertain of how he might react. Ever since her mother had walked out on them for a wealthier man, it had been only the two of them. That betrayal had left scars, and though they never spoke about it, both carried its weight every day. Her father had never been the type of man built for responsibility—on his own, he was the kind who would have been too lazy to cook and would throw himself into anything but cooking to fill his stomach. Yet with her depending on him, he had been forced to change. He had grown into someone who put her first, reshaping himself into a man who carried the burden of parenthood no matter the cost.
Because of that, David hadn't dated in years. His world narrowed into a routine of work and caring for her, each day repeating the same cycle. Many times, Sarah had tried to convince him to move on, to find someone for himself, reminding him that she was more than capable of handling her own life. But David never listened. To him, she was still the same little girl who needed his protection. And that stubborn devotion always left her feeling guilty, knowing that he had sacrificed so much for her. His life no longer revolved around his own wants—it orbited only her.
"…" David turned his head toward her, his eyes wide, clearly stunned by the words that had just left her mouth. For a moment, he said nothing, caught between disbelief and the stubborn image he still held of her.
"You're like ten years old—you're too young to be dating," he finally said, his brows furrowing into a deep frown. The words came out harsher than he intended, but they carried the full weight of his protective instinct.
"I'm eighteen years old. This is the same thing I've been saying all this time!" Sarah's voice rose with frustration, her hands clenching at her sides. "You still think I'm ten years old. I'm eighteen. Treat me like I'm eighteen."
Her tone softened the moment her eyes caught his expression. Whatever anger she had melted away, replaced with guilt as she saw the complexity in David's gaze—the mixture of fear, love, and the unwillingness to let go of the little girl he still saw standing before him.
"We're only going to the movies," she said softly, her voice hesitant as though she were trying to reassure him. David gave a small nod in response, his expression steady but unreadable.
"I trust you," he replied, the words leaving his mouth quietly. For a brief moment, she froze, her heart tugging at the sound of them. She wanted to feel comfort, wanted to take those words as the blessing she had hoped for. But she couldn't ignore the way they sounded—strained, almost forced, as though it pained him to let them go.
"I can stay if you want…" she offered gently, her eyes lingering on him. David shook his head without hesitation, the motion calm but final.
"You have your own life to live… I guess you're leaving the nest," David said lightly, though his chest tightened as the words slipped out. The thought weighed on him—the quiet acceptance that the time was near, that his baby girl would no longer always be by his side.
"So, who are you going off with?" David asked softly. His tone was calm on the surface, though it carried an edge of curiosity mixed with unease.
Sarah's face warmed as her cheeks flushed, the color giving away her embarrassment before she even opened her mouth. She hesitated, then began to explain about her rival—the boy in her class she had constantly measured herself against. David knew the stories well; he had heard every complaint when she fell short, and every burst of excitement when she managed to outdo him.
The two of them were considered the brightest students in their class, constantly standing at the top. Sarah had fought hard for that place; every late night and every hour of study was fueled by her determination to be nothing like her mother. So when her rival—the one boy she had measured herself against for years—suddenly asked her out, she was blindsided. The shock hit her harder than she expected. To learn that the person she had hated competing with secretly had a crush on her left her stunned. It was the first time she had been put in such a position.
"Well, take things slow. A good relationship isn't something that happens instantly. Take the time to lay a good foundation," David said with a sigh, pulling his wallet from his pocket.
"A relationship is about sacrifice as well. Putting the others' needs before your own… but that doesn't mean you're the only one who makes sacrifices," David added, handing her two crisp twenties. Sarah accepted the bills quietly.
"Don't simply listen to what they say; focus more on their actions. Anyone can say anything; it's their actions that speak louder than words. Don't let anyone walk over you. You're the most valuable thing in the world—if they can't treat you like you are, then don't settle for less," David said, forcing a smile even as his words carried a heavy seriousness. He tried to keep his tone light, but the weight behind his advice was impossible to miss.
"…why are you so dramatic? This is just a date! You know what? I've had enough of this!" Sarah snapped, her voice rising sharply. She stood abruptly, frustration spilling out with every movement. With one quick motion, she grabbed the remote and paused the anime they had been watching together. Without another word, she marched off, leaving David sitting alone, taken aback by the suddenness of her reaction and how over-the-top it felt.
He looked up as Sarah returned, an iPad clutched firmly in her hands. Without giving him the chance to say anything, she pushed it into his lap and unlocked the screen, a dating app already pulled up and waiting.
"I'm going to get you a girlfriend," she announced with determination, her tone leaving no room for argument. David's brows furrowed, his frown deepening, but Sarah ignored it. With quick swipes, she began setting up an account for him, carefully choosing the best photo she could find.
"Now, this is your first step: talk to someone and just be normal," Sarah said softly, her eyes lingering on him. She knew her father better than anyone. If, for example, she were ever gone, he would collapse completely. She was the one holding him together, the anchor keeping him steady—and deep down, she didn't want to imagine what he would become without her.
"Someone texted me…" David muttered, staring at the screen in his hands. His voice carried uncertainty—years had passed since he had spoken to anyone with the intention of dating, and he felt completely out of place.
"That's just a welcome message. I've got to go to school. Leave the iPad alone, and when I get back, we can go through it to find my stepmother," Sarah said with a playful smile.
David's face twisted instantly in disgust, the very word making his stomach turn. Sarah rolled her eyes at his reaction and got up, brushing him off with a grin that showed she was used to his stubbornness. David followed soon after, heading out to work early, hoping to beat the traffic and get the day over with.
But fate had other plans. That ordinary day would become the worst of his life. For it was the day Superman clashed against a new opponent in a battle that tore through Metropolis, leaving destruction in its wake. The fight was unlike anything the city had ever witnessed. For the first time, the Man of Steel—the very symbol of hope and justice—bled.
David rushed out to his car, hands gripping the wheel as he sped toward the movie theater where his daughter was. His chest tightened with every block he passed, unease twisting into dread as he caught sight of the chaos unfolding in the city. Superman was struggling, locked in a brutal fight against an armored foe who showed no concern for the lives around him. The villain had no hesitation in using innocents as leverage, forcing Superman to hesitate, to freeze, and exploiting every moment of restraint.
The city itself had become a battlefield. Buildings were torn apart and hurled aside like toys, their destruction crushing everything in their path. Explosions rang out from cars, ruptured fuel lines, and scattered debris, each blast adding to the mounting death toll. The air was thick with fire, dust, and screams.
David's eyes followed Superman as the hero strained against the tide of destruction. He wasn't just fighting—he was saving whoever he could, pulling people from rubble, shielding children, even carrying frightened animals out of danger. Superman was giving everything, pouring himself into the fight. He truly was trying… but against such overwhelming devastation, one man—no matter how powerful—wasn't enough.
Other heroes soon revealed themselves, streaking across the sky and dropping into the wreckage to aid the civilians. Green Lantern, along with several others, worked tirelessly to pull people from danger, to shield them from falling debris, and to hold back the chaos. Yet for all their effort, none possessed the sheer strength needed to stand beside Superman in the fight. Against the armored foe, their power simply wasn't enough.
David's car screeched to a halt outside the movie theater. The building was in disarray, windows shattered and walls trembling from the shockwaves of the distant battle. The entire city felt like it was shaking. Heart pounding, David rushed inside, calling out as he searched frantically for his daughter. Sarah quickly rushed towards David, forgetting that she was with her date, for at this moment, what more could she want other than her dad?