Secrets beneath the Surface

h's

ets. My mind was full of thoughts, but one thing stood out: the email from

He knew me well enough to sense my worry, but he kep

rged, my voice betray

manded respect wherever he went. But he was also distant, cold even, never showing the warmth a father should to hi

My feet carried me through the entrance and down the sterile, white corridors, the harsh lighting adding to th

CU," she said, her tone a mixture of pr

door, I paused, my hand hovering over the handle. I wasn't sure what I was going to find on the other side, a

by machines that beeped and hummed softly. His eyes were closed, his face pale and drawn. The sight

e was standing at the foot of the bed, her usual confident dem

d?" I asked, m

was it guilt? Fear? "He collapsed during a meeting," she said quietly. "T

he man who seemed indestructible, had been brought down by something as common as

fixed on the frail figure of my fath

doctors are optimistic, but it's still touch

ever backed down from a challenge. But seeing him like this made me

mth I remembered from my childhood. "Dad... I'm here," I said, not sure if he coul

onitor. I could feel Jessie's eyes on me, but I didn't look at her. I couldn't. My mind

had never said to him, all the unresolved issues between us. I squeezed

nally looked up at her, and for the first time, I saw som

sked, my voice bar

to say what was on her mind. "I... I t

ed a beat. "Wha

n't entirely honest with you about... everything. Ther

own my spine. "What are y

"Your father was under a lot of stress,

, heavy and ominous. I stared at her, try

ecause of you?" I dem

There were... things I was pressuring him a

sn't the time. "We'll talk about this later," I said, m

ent, we were both silent, the

t everything was about to change. My world had already been turned upside d