« Yes. »
« And you stayed. »
I could not give an answer.
After a moment he whispered:
« I want to see him. »
We went down together.
Mark stood by the window in the lobby.
He looked older, thin, and exhausted.
He froze when he saw Liam.
Then he slowly knelt down.
« Hello, Liam. »
Liam held my hand tightly.
« Are you really my father? »
« Yes. »
« Why didn’t you come visit me? »
Mark lowered his head.
« Because I was a coward. »
Liam looked at him intently.
« I was scared in the hospital. »
« I know. »
« But Mom stayed. »
Tears welled up in Mark’s eyes.
« Yes. »
« And Grandpa stayed. »
« Yes. »
« You should have stayed too. »
Mark’s face clouded over.
« You are right. »
Liam opened the blue box and took out a small silver music box.
You protected her?
» Every day. «
Liam listened to the soft melody.
Then he said:
Tomorrow we are going back to the ocean.
