The view she was offered showed her everything she'd been afraid to see, but had known she would. Her father stared out at her, sitting in his favorite chair. There was a hint of a smile on his face, one that he reserved for his daughter alone. He was stingy with his smiles, and they were never broad or overt gestures. The fact that this one was caught on camera was a big deal. He had his arm around a little girl, holding her close to him in a protective manner. The small, towheaded girl beamed brightly at the camera, her little arms wrapped tightly around the mans neck. That little girl adored her papa with every fiber of her being, and she wasn't afraid to show it. The photo was worn and faded, but every detail remained engrained in her mind with overly sharp clarity.
Tanya held fast to the inside of her lip to keep her emotions, and hopefully her voice, in check. "Yes," she said quietly, swallowing a large lump that was lodged firmly in her throat. "It's mine. May I please have it back?"