For decades.
“Your mother made me promise never to tell you what happened.
She was afraid you would grow up carrying my guilt too.
So I stayed away.
But I kept my promise to your father.
I made sure you were never completely alone.”
Tears rolled down my face.
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I remembered something Daniel had said during one of our first hospice visits.
We had been drinking tea when he suddenly asked:
“Did you ever feel like someone was watching over you?”
I laughed at the time.
“I wish.”
Daniel had smiled strangely.
Now I understood why.
I turned the page.
“When I learned I was dying, I broke the promise I made to your mother.
I contacted the hospice organization and requested you specifically.”
I froze.
So even that hadn’t been an accident.
Daniel had chosen me.
“I didn’t know whether you would remember me.
You had seen me only a few times when you were very young.
I only wanted to meet the woman your father died protecting.”
My chest hurt.
