Chapter 10 - The Unspoken Apology
I spent the night in the maternity ward, hooked up to fetal monitors. The rhythmic thump-thump of my baby’s heart was the only thing keeping me sane. Dana sat by the window, drafting relentless emergency motions. At 9:00 PM, a soft knock echoed through the room. “May I come closer?” a voice asked. My father stood in the doorway. He brought no flowers, avoiding anything that felt performative. I nodded, the tears instantly spilling over. He pulled a chair to my bedside. “I am sorry,” he rasped. “For making return feel like defeat. I warned you to prove my authority, not to preserve our relationship.” “I stayed because I couldn't bear to hear that you were right,” I sobbed. Elias closed his eyes, the weight of the years crashing down on him. He promised not to take over my life, not to command me, but to simply be there. He would help me find independent counsel and secure housing. For the first time in my life, my father wasn't holding a gavel. He was just holding my hand.
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