In this monologue from the play, “This Place Without You”, Lena, 24, is a waitress in a struggling Detroit diner. She confronts her father about abandoning the family.
LENA: You think it’s that easy? Just walk back in here and say, “I’m sorry”? Like those two words are some kind of magic spell, and all the broken pieces just snap back together? Do you even know how many birthdays you missed? How many nights Mom cried herself to sleep, clutching that stupid photo of you like it could bring you back? And me? I sat there, every night, pretending I didn’t hear her sobbing through the walls, pretending I didn’t care.
You know what’s funny? I used to imagine this moment. You walking through that door, all apologetic, maybe with some big explanation that made it all make sense. Like, maybe you were sick or in trouble or—or something out there was so important that you couldn’t come back to us. I’d sit in bed, thinking, “He’ll have a good reason. There has to be a good reason.”
But now? Now, I don’t even want to know. Because the truth? It can’t be good enough. It’ll just be more disappointment, more lies.
Do you even remember what it was like after you left? Mom had to take double shifts at the plant just to keep the lights on. I got my first job at 14—not because I wanted to—but because I had to. School? Homework? College? All that stuff you’re supposed to care about? That went out the window the minute you walked out.
And you—what did you do? Did you even think about us? Or was it easier to just forget? To pretend we didn’t exist while you… what? Traveled the world? Found yourself?
You don’t get to waltz back in here now and act like you care. Like you suddenly remembered you have a daughter. I don’t know who you think I am, but I’m not that little girl anymore. I grew up without you. I survived without you. So, unless you’ve got a time machine in your back pocket, you can take your “sorry” and go right back to wherever you came from.
Because whatever it is you’re looking for here… you won’t find it. Not from me.
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