10
Dad wouldn’t let the paramedics take Mom.
く
Grandma tried to convince him, but it didn’t
work.
Finally.
My dad, knelt to Grandma.
“Mom, please, don’t let me and Sarah be
apart, please.”
He hit his head on the floor.
Loud.
His face was bloody.
I got scared, running over, hugging Dad,
saying, “Dad! You’re bleeding! You’re
bleeding!”
く
He froze.
Quickly, he grabbed my hands, asking, “Lily,
why did your mom do this? Can you tell me?”
What’s wrong with Mom?
1
Mom’s just sleeping.
I shook my head, saying, “Dad, what’s wrong?
What’s wrong with Mom?”
He didn’t say anything.
Then, he remembered something, asking,
“The test results!”
“Lily, did your mom ask you to give me the
test results?”
Test results?
What’s that?
I was confused.
Dad said, “That piece of paper! The paper
you gave me!”
“What paper!” Grandma grabbed me.
I was scared.
And cried.
“What paper! You ripped it up! Dad! You’re
hurting me!”
Ripped it up.
<
Dad froze, let go of me, his hands fell.
Grandma grabbed Dad’s shirt, asking, “What
paper? Jason, what did you do to my
daughter!”
Dad shook his head, crying, saying, “It was
test results.”
“Sarah, I’m sorry, it was my fault, I didn’t
believe you, I said too much.”
“It’s okay, don’t worry, even if it’s cancer, I’ll
get you the best treatment, you always said
that I was all–powerful, right?”
“Cancer?”
Grandma almost fell.
Dad suddenly bent down, picking Mom up.
“Let’s go to the hospital, let’s get checked
out again, you’re so afraid of pain, how did
you deal with the tests by yourself? Don’t be
scared, this time, I’ll be with you.”
I pulled on Dad.
“Dad, where are you taking Mom?”
Dad looked at me, smiling, like his smile
towards Tiffany.
“Lily, Dad’s back, Dad’s never leaving, I’ll be
by your side, forever, okay?”
“Really?” My eyes brightened.
く
“Dad, you’re not Tiffany’s dad anymore?”
Dad froze, his face pained.
“I’m sorry, Lily, Dad let you down, I let you
down.”
The teacher told us.
When people say they’re sorry.
We can choose to forgive them, or not.
I choose to forgive him.
Because, he’s my dad.
I patted his hand, smiling, saying, “It’s okay,
Dad, I forgive you.”
<
Dad, I forgive you.”
If you still want me.
And Mom.
Then that’s enough.
