Chapter 2: A Father's Promise
Chapter 2: A Father's Promise
The little girl looked tiny beneath the white blankets.
Her eyes slowly opened.
Confused.
Weak.
Scared.
Michael approached carefully.
"Hi."
She stared at him.
"Are you the doctor?"
Michael smiled through tears.
"Yes."
She thought for a moment.
"Did you save me?"
"I tried."
The little girl reached for his hand.
"Thank you."
Something inside Michael broke.
Six years.
Six years he had missed.
Six birthdays.
Six Christmas mornings.
Six years of bedtime stories he never got to read.
"What is your name?" he asked softly.
The little girl smiled.
"Lily."
The name struck him immediately.
Emily's favorite flower.
Of course.
Michael squeezed her hand.
"Lily..."
For the first time, he said the words he never imagined he would.
"I'm your father."
The room became silent.
Lily blinked.
"My father?"
Michael nodded.
Tears streamed down his face.
"I've been looking for you my whole life."
Lily looked at him carefully.
Then asked the question that shattered him.
"Why didn't you come sooner?"
Michael couldn't speak.
Because there was no answer that could heal six years of absence.
Finally, he whispered,
"I didn't know where you were."
Lily stared at him.
Then wrapped her small arms around his neck.
"It's okay."
The same simple words.
Yet they carried more forgiveness than he deserved.
Michael held her tightly.
At that moment, he made a promise.
He would never leave her again.
Not for a day.
Not for an hour.
May you like
Not for a minute.
No matter what.
