Chapter 38 - The Father They Should Never Have Awakened
One year later, Daniel stood in the backyard.
Lily sat beneath the old oak tree.
Anna brought coffee.
“You're thinking too much.”
Daniel smiled.
“Probably.”
Lily called from across the yard.
“Dad!”
He turned.
She held a small box.
“What is that?”
“Something from Grandpa.”
Daniel approached.
Inside was his father's old watch.
Beneath it was a note.
Daniel unfolded it.
If you ever reach this point, then you survived.
Daniel smiled through tears.
The note continued.
The world will tell you that surviving makes you strong.
It doesn't.
Choosing love after survival does.
Daniel looked toward Anna.
Then Lily.
His family.
His real family.
He closed the note.
For the first time in decades, he no longer felt like a weapon someone had forgotten to deactivate.
May you like
He was simply a father.
And that was enough.
