I remembered every time Frank had told me, “You gave me a reason to keep going.”
I had always assumed it was simply something loving parents said.
Now I realized he had meant every word literally.
“He let me think he rescued me.”
Caroline held my hand tighter.
“He did rescue you.” Then she smiled through her tears. “You rescued him too.”
I raced back toward the hospital with Miley’s photograph on the passenger seat.
Every traffic light seemed unbearably long.
I needed Frank to know that I understood.
I needed to tell him the truth had not damaged my love for him.
It had made me understand the cost of it.
I rushed from the parking lot toward his floor.
The nurse was standing outside his room.
The expression on her face stopped me before she could finish speaking.
“I’m sorry, ma’am… your father…”