. "Miss Hart?" I met his gaze a

the ICU door but a firm hand caught my arm. "I'm sor

here." His hand fell away, but he remained where he was.

houldn

wo nurses hurried out, pushing an empty stretcher a

on me. "Family of

d immediately. "

n my rain-soaked clothes that were o

nute. He needs complete rest, so pl

it felt strangely empty. Machines surrounded the bed where my father l

n't recognize the man lying there.

hing building plans and lifting me onto his

side on shaking legs, one step at a time, and wrapped both hands

uld somehow find its way into his. Only that morning, he had left home wearing the same navy suit he insisted

dn't even know what I was

alized I was crying. "I'm here," I whisp

I froze, still sniffing. I stared a

ndered aimlessly across the room before settling on me. Wh

re than a breath. I leaned closer

d it between both of mine. "You scared me," I whispered, for

smile but it disappeared almost immediately. He

... s

row

you apo

d weakly around mine

my head."It was

There was sadness in his eyes, but

uldn'

ruggling to ca

dn't pr

been observing quietly stepped forward at onc

en to

ld on his hand an

her painful breath

washed ove

cked. "I had.

r beside the bed began beeping faster. The n

last time. "H..." I

ried again.

nd another nurse rushed back

his expression had changed. "

head. "I'

ed. "Yo

need

ve." The firmness in his voi

o of my father's hand. As the nurses gathered around

with fear or pain. With the quiet desperation of someone try

staring through the narrow glass panel w

who had stopped me outside the ICU was waiting a few st

e nod. "My name is Daniel Reeves. I have serv

If this is about the compan

answer came wi

e held out the folder. "Your father instructed me t

de no move to take it

oice remained steady, but there was an ur

lder immediately. His fingers remained on it for a brief second, as though the weight of it wasn't measured in pa

efore it's

down at