I Love My Biker Father More Than Anything But What He Did On My Wedding Day Destroyed Me

“Baby girl,” he whispered. “Did you… did you get married?”

I collapsed beside his bed, grabbing his hand. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?”

“Because,” Dad said, his voice so weak it broke my heart, “today was supposed to be about you being happy. Not about me dying.”

“You’re my dad. You’re supposed to be there—”

“I was there, Olivia. I’ve been there your whole life. Missing today doesn’t change twenty years of being there.”

“But I needed you today.”

Dad’s eyes filled with tears. “I know. And not being there… that’s gonna haunt me however long I got left. But baby girl, I couldn’t let you see me like this on your wedding day. I couldn’t let you walk down that aisle looking at your dying father instead of your future husband.”

“How long?” I asked, though I didn’t want to know.

“Weeks. Maybe a month if I’m lucky.”

I laid my head on his chest, listening to his heart beat. The same heartbeat I’d fallen asleep to as a little girl when nightmares woke me up. The same heartbeat I’d heard pressed against his back on a thousand motorcycle rides.

“I can’t lose you,” I sobbed.

“You’re not losing me. You’re keeping every moment we ever had. Every ride, every laugh, every lesson. That doesn’t go away when I do.”

Danny appeared in the doorway, still in his wedding suit. He looked at Dad, then at me, then back at Dad.Continue reading…