Father’s love is him sending me to the hospital for a checkup
immediately after Mommy told him about my problem.
(He argued that it was too sudden and troublesome.)
He called for a last minute half-day off just to make it.

Father’s love is the payment he makes for all my medical bills.
(He tells me not to see the Nutritionist because “it’s a waste of time”) 
He encourages me to buy the anti-depressants when I say
“I’m worried about the cost”.

Father’s love is a dinner we haven’t had in ages.
(The doctor said I’ll die if I don’t eat; Father stopped arguing then.)
We spend the time together, finally able to see each other after years of separation.
(But the lights are a bit dim.)

Father’s love is the expensive things he’s ordered for me:
(he’d never do this for me before)
Wagyu beef with foie gras,
deluxe hotpot with abalone, oysters, and premium scallops,
unagi rice upsized with extra unagi and rice for good measure.
(They were all on promotion)
The whole thing cost $200 but he didn’t even bat an eye.

Father’s love is when he finally turns up at Mommy’s place after years
of silence, his white suit sparkling like some Prince Charming or Knight or
some nobleman from my childhood.
(Mommy tells me to be wary; he was like this when they got married,
and look at where they are now.)
We watch a movie together and he buys me cake,
looking at me with pride and hope as I take each bite.
(I don’t tell him that I hate chocolate and that my toilet trips aren’t for the toilet.)

Father’s love is the outing we have every weekend –
a walk in the park counting squirrels, a movie, and a dinner.
It is the jokes we exchange and the conversations in the car.
It is the pats on the shoulder and kisses on my head.
(He did this with all his girlfriends, and they always broke up after a month.)

Father’s love is-
Father’s love is?
Father’s love is…

Father’s love is
the things he’ll do for me
(for now)
And I will make it last.