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When I arrived, Dad wrapped me in his arms. His gray eyes looked tired but full of warmth.
For the first time in weeks, I felt oxygen fill my lungs.
Veronica, though? Her smile was thin and forced — the kind someone gives when red wine spills on a white carpet. She murmured something about “timing” before drifting away, leaving a knot in my stomach.
Dad, on the other hand, cherished having me there. He’d sit beside my bed, massage my swollen feet, reminisce about when I was a baby. He surprised me with little comforts — a plush pillow, herbal tea blends, even a stuffed toy for the twins. For a while, I convinced myself everything would be okay.
Then Dad fell ill.