Emma felt like a lifeless statue as she slumped onto the bench. Her legs had given in, unable to bear the emotional weight of the revelation that had just crashed upon her. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring the world around her. She tried to maintain her composure, but the dam holding back her emotions had burst, and the flood of grief and confusion was overwhelming.
In a trembling voice, Emma admitted, "I don't know what to do, Dad. I don't know if I should be angry or sad or... just lost."
Her father knelt down before her, his face etched with a mixture of sorrow and desperation. He gently touched her hand and said, "Emma, I can't bear this alone. I need you by my side. You're my rock, my confidante."
Tears streamed down Emma's cheeks as she asked the question that was haunting her, "How did this happen, Dad? How did Michele... slip on the stairs?"
