After returning from the sterile environment of the hospital, I took a moment to gather my thoughtchanged a few soft-spoken words of reassurance with my mom before entering the house, the familiar warmth of our home offering little comfort.
I caught sight of Dad pacing anxiously along the parlor, his footsteps echoing starkly against the wooden floorboards. As I stepped inside, I remained silent, and then his pacing came to an unexpected halt when he noticed me standing there.
"I'm sorry I went to the hospital," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.
Almost instinctively, he quickened his strides toward me, and before I could process what was happening, he wrapped his arms around me in a tight embrace. The sudden warmth took me by surprise, but it also felt like a shield against the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.
