My Daughter Taught Me Novels & Stories

She was far too intelligent to be a bum. “It must be really fascinating there,” I said, feeling curiosity win out. “So, who taught you how to fight like that?” “My father,” she replied. This time, there was no sarcasm. Her voice was flat, just a simple fact. It felt like the first genuinely vulnerable thing she had said to me. “That must’ve been really nice,” What a privilege she has, I thought to myself for the fact that I never had anything like that. Everything I knew, I learned on my own.

I could have another rich, spoiled daughter with the press of a button. I had known then he wasn’t bluffing. My father doesn’t ever bluff. He had taught me how to wield cruelty, how to make others kneel, how to turn power into a weapon. And he had also taught me what it felt like to be under someone’s thumb. That I should never put myself in such position when I know the person isn’t above me. That lesson I had never forgotten.

She completely breaks down in my arms. “That fucker went to my mother’s house asking to see his daughter. And my mother let him in. She literally did that shit.” She wipes aggressively at her tears. “I told her my daughter would never have dealings with that man. He is not a good man. I learned that the hard way.” She laughs bitterly. “It’s like buying lessons. Well, I bought all my fucking lessons.” I tighten my arms around her.

At the ceremony where my mother, Helena Marlow, received the Best Homeroom Teacher award, the parents wept with gratitude. They praised her for nurturing the students successfully without ever resorting to harsh discipline, and for helping them all to excellent results. But no one knew that the path to their children’s success had been paved by Mom, using me as a warning to others. When someone in the class stole money, cheated on an exam, or got into a romantic relationship, I was the one punished. During the ceremony, the principal, Ms. Wanda Ambrose, stepped onto the stage to present her award. She asked, “Ms. Marlow, you have so many outstanding students in your class. Which student

"That feels really good, honey. You're doing just fine." Looking up into my eyes, her lips stretched tight around me, the way she was smiling, looking so pleased with herself, I realized that I really was enjoying teaching my daughter everything she needed to know about sex, including how to give head. A little afraid to scare her off, I didn't want to shoot down her throat, especially her first time. Feeling my balls starting to get tight, I pulled out of her mouth, clenched my teeth, and growled as I shot all over her tits.

After all, he was the CEO of Monroar Motor Corporation, a billion dollar company. They settled into seats in one of the last rows and I breathed. “She was a light to me and everyone who knew her in a world…” I trailed off, catching sight of Dad scrolling through his phone. “In a world of darkness. My mother was honest and upright. She taught me contentment, even though we never had enough. She taught me all sorts of things, from mending my dresses to dressing my injuries to speaking up for myself. I sniffled, my throat clogged with tears.

Breaking into pieces as her grip on me loosened. Before another second passed, I pulled her closer. “You’re not still my daughter.” A tear rolled down her cheek and I quickly completed my sentence. “You’ve always been my daughter.” She blinked at me confused, like she couldn’t understand anything I was saying. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I spoke. “I held you the day you were born. I taught you how to ride a bicycle. I scared monsters away when you had nightmares.” I gave myself a moment to breathe, wiping the tears that were rolling down her face.

She looked at me in the audience, and she smiled. "I had a daughter," she said. "And she taught me everything about love by refusing to accept my version of it. If there is anyone here who has a daughter who is choosing a different path than the one you wanted for her, I want you to know: that is love working. That is your child teaching you how to love in a way that sets people free."

Now that was completely insane. But one thing I have learned after living through this hell for two years is that my master—that ancient monster—does not negotiate. There was no backing out of this. I simply nodded slowly to my father. “Nothing can be done about it, right?” “You will be fine, Tesia.” “Of course I will.” I did not make a big deal out of it. Instead, I sat down and started teaching my daughter her alphabet. I had been doing this with her ever since she was just an infant, so by this point, little Amie already knew almost everything by heart.

It came out before she could stop it, genuine and a little loud, and she covered her mouth with her hand and shook her head. It was the first real thing either of us had done all day. We ate at the counter, me eventually with a fork, her with chopsticks, the notes pushed to one side to make room for the containers. She told me about her dad teaching her to cook properly at seven years old because he said everyone should know how to feed themselves and other people. I told her about the first company acquisition I had made at twenty six, the sleepless nights, the way my hands had shaken signing the papers.