After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage By Cassila K

Chapter 44

As I walked out of the cemetery, I saw someone I hadn't expected—my dad. Jackson must have gone to see him, which is how he found out about my mom's camera. He must have also known that I was back.

With a somewhat tentative tone, he asked, "Have you eaten?"

I didn't respond immediately and asked, "What do you want from me?"

He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Could you come home for a while?"

I couldn't hold back a sarcastic laugh. "You've always told me to stay away. I've followed your wishes, so why now, all of a sudden, do you want me to return?" His voice trembled as he said, "... Your sister is ill. She has cancer."

I froze for a moment, taken aback.

"I've 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 push 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."

a tangled mess of misunderstandings. "I know," I

that I was going to follow in my mother's footsteps and become a doctor. I rushed home, hoping

going to college soon too. How are we going to afford

her to

know it's either her or me

on the street alone for the rest of the afternoon. That entire summer, I lived in

to report to college, I thought I had everything figured out. It felt like a new

you sacrificed me. No matter how much it hurt, you still sent me away,"

but I interrupted, "I don't resent you.

"But as a daughter, you're not a terrible father, but

my account from time to time,

rest... let it be

added coldly, "Please, don't come looking for me

felt a wave of lightness wash over me. All the burdens that had weighed heavily on my heart seemed to lift and disappear, one by

Joseph had once bought my mother the bird-of-paradise flowers. The owner recognized me, but the shop was almost empty. She was loading

"Where are you moving

closing down! I want to

a moment. "Well, that's

lilies of the valley, hyacinths, and olive branches, and wrapped them