Nothing Is Forever

"It won't be for long, baby girl." A large, warm hand patted my head as I looked down at my shoes, trying to be as strong as he was being. But it was so hard. That hand had held mine, hugged me, cleared my tears, and always let me know: I was in safe hands.
"Look up at me so I can see those big browns okay?" I lifted my chin, tears starting to spill. My resolve was weakening as I looked up at a strong, sturdy face.
I wrapped my thin arms around him, clutching him close to me.
"Don't go, don't leave me, don't walk away," I chanted these hopeless words in my head. They spun around and around, blurring my vision with tears as the police men took the wrong man away.
He turned and looked back at me, and it took all I had to restrain myself from running through the gates after him. He yelled back at me words I would cherish and that would keep me going for the next two years.
"Nothing is forever darling."

Two years passed. I am ten years old now, and my dad is finally, finally coming to get me back from the foster system. He was right. Nothing is forever.