January 2nd, 2017
2:13 AM

Silence.

It's sometimes golden from what I've heard. I'm not usually one for it. That's all that's with me in this galaxy that surrounds me endlessly.

But this time it was a different silence. One that you would find in some sort of... I don't know. It's just new to me.

... No it's not.

This is the silence that says you're alone. It says the world wants you dead. The world thinks you only have one purpose: to kill.

It says to me that your family is missing, dead, or both, and prayer would do little good, but I did anyway.

But that was three years ago. We were outlaws. We were hated. I was lucky to find a stranger who would help.

I haven't heard it in so long.

Why is it back?

"Ryanna." The voice was deep; comforting, making my spine twinge for a second, but relax.

I whirled around in the gravity-less space. The stars were gleaming, making out a shape, then giving it color.

Then he was real. All too real.

"Daddy?" was all I could ask.

He smiled at me. The same smile I haven't seen in do long. The one I never thought I would see again.

"Hello, my child." The stars behind him made circles of light.

I failed all attempt to move towards him.

This couldn't be happening. Not like this.

"When are you coming home?"

He smiled again. "In time, you'll see, Rya."

I frowned at his response. "Why can't you tell me?"

His smile shrank only a little, but his optics showed all.

He wanted to tell me. But he couldn't. Something was holding him back.

He lifted his servo and made it flat, palm down, and a small star type of shape appeared under it in a ball of light. "Pull your hair back, baby. I promise this will only sting a little."

Part of me wanted to question what his intentions were, but I held my curly hair up and locked onto his optics.

They were flickering between blue and purple.

The star under his hand made it's way towards me, hosting over my neck before testing on the left side. It sting for a good thirty seconds, before subsiding to a light throb.

"What is it?" I ask.

His smile shrank a little more. "The brightest star I could find for you."

"Daddy, I don't understand why you can't come home. You don't have the seed anymore.

"I want to come home, baby girl. I do. But there are some things I have to do before I can. You must understand."

Whispering sounded of all around us. Demonic I covered my ears to block it out. He just stood there with the face of a broken spark.

He started to fade away. "I love you."

The whispering kept going and going until he was gone. Tears welled up in my optics.

But everything went back.

"You'll never get him back."

«·»

I shot up, gasping for air. The surroundings were familiar.

My room. In Cade Yeager's home.

Bless that man's soul.

But my father was gone.

But I saw him! I haven't in three years! That has to say something.

I threw off the blankets and ran out my bedroom door, past Cade's room, and out the front door.

The snow was falling gently on the porch, covering up the midnight sky.

No. It can't end like this.

"Ryanna,"

I whirled around to look behind me.

Cade.

"What are you doing up? Why are you out here? It's freezing." His voice was raspy and slightly irritated.

I breathed in. "I... I saw him."

He raised an eyebrow. "Saw who?"

Tears welled up in my eyes. "Daddy. I saw Daddy."

He sighed. "Ryanna, I..."

The tears streamed down my face.

He came up to me and wrapped me into a hug. "I know you miss him. I know you do."

"I just want him to come home."

"I know." He hoisted me up into his arms and wrapped the bathrobe around me. "Come on. You're sleeping in my room tonight."

I fell asleep in his arms, feeling the light throbbing on my neck.

"I love you."

Optimus' voice broke the silence.

Inspired by the photo above.