As I walked out of the cemetery, I sank someone hadn’t expected my dad. Jason must have gone to see him, which is how be found out about my moor’s cameta, He must have also krimen that I was hack
With a somewhat tentative tone, he asked, “Have you eaten?”
1 did respond immediately and asked, “What do you want from me?”
He hesitated for a moment helme speaking. “Could you come home for
I couldn’t hold back a sarcastic laugh. “You’ve always told me to stay away, followed your wishes, so why now, all of a sudden, do you want me to
return?”
His voice trembled as he said.
1 froze for a moment, taken aback
Your sister is ill. She has caners!
“Tve tried everything we’ve sold everything we can. You’re her sister. Could you help her?”
His face was full of sorrow and regret
“I know you resent me, but it wasn’t what I wanted. It wasn’t my choice to puil you away………
His eyes were filled with pain. “You’re my daughter. How could I ever bear to send you away? I had my reasons
Hooked at him quietly, knowing that our past was a tangled mess of misunderstandings. “I know,” I said, not needing further explanation
He seemed to be lost in thought for a momem. I remembered how, on the day him that I was going to follow in my mother’s footsteps and become a doctor. arguing with my aunt in the kitchen, I heard words that cut through me
“May will he going to college soon too. How are we going to afford it?”
“You’ve already raised her to adulthood. Isn’t that enough?”
“Harry! You now it’s either her or me in this family
received my college acceptance lotter, I’d been so happy, eager to tell rushed home, hoping to share the good news, but when I overheard him
I’d closed the door scfly and ran out, sitting on the street alone for the rest of the afternoon. That entire summer, I lived in a constant state of anety. waiting for an enser could never fully understand.
But when the time came for me to report to college. I thought I had everything figured out. It felt like a new beginning, yet my world shattered.
“You didn’t want our home to fall apart again, so you sacrificed me. No matter how much it hurt, you still sent me away.” I said quietly
He opened his mouth, but I interrupted, “I don’t resent you. I understand.”
I paused and added. “But as a daughter, you’re not a terrible father, but you’re also not a good one.”
I reached for my phone and transferred 300.000 yuan to him. Over the years. He’d sent money into my account from time to time, and I had saved it all, planning to repay him when the moment was right.
“I’ve paid back the money you gave me. The rest… let it be my way of repaying your raising me.
Ladded coldly, “Please, don’t come looking for me again.”
After the restaurant, I felt a wave of lightness wash over me, All the burd us that had weighed heavily on my heart seemed to lift and disappear one by one
I turned a corner and found myself at the flower shop where Joseph had once bought my mother the bird of paradise flowers. The owner recognized me, but the shop was almost empty. She was loading the last of the flowerpots onto a truck
I asked. “Where are you moving these 1027
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Nine Chances to Break a Heart: The Love That Never Been Chosen
25.04
Chapter 19
She smiled, “We’re closing down! I want to try something different.”
I paused for a moment. “Well, that’s alright
She took the remaining lites of the valley, hyacinths, and olive branches, and wrapped them in a houpait for me. “May we all embrace new
beginnings
We shared a brief, heartfelt hug before parting ways.
As I walked home, the sunset painted the sky in vibrant hues. I stopped for a le, taking in the beauty of the moment, before my phone ring. It was the dean, his voice tense.
“Joe, your leave might need to end sooner than expected.”
1 immediately asked, “What’s going on?
He sent me a news antiche: “Lebanese Conflict Escalates, Multiple Pager Explosions Reported.”
“The hospital thinks you might be the best person to handle this-
I interrupted him, “T going.”
1 pulled out the necklace with Joseph’s name engraved on the tag from my car and kissed it gently.
I knew then that there would be no other answers. Wherever the smoke of warises, that’s where we must go.
We will always hope that everyone in this world, no matter how deep the darkness they face, will find a glimmer of hope.
i
