Chapter 5

“You and the child are bound by blood. In his short life, you were his only mother,” Dad said. “You’ll meet someone better someday, and you’ll have more children of your own.”

He sighed. There were a few more streaks of gray in his hair than before I left, and he looked even more worn out.

“But if you wasted your tears crying over that heartless man, then those tears were for nothing. I told you not to see him, but you were stubborn. You’d rather cut me off than give him up,” he added.

I poked my head out from under the blanket and stared at the deep lines on Dad’s face. Tears blurred my vision again.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” I sobbed. “I should have listened. I’m sorry. I wasn’t crying for him. I was crying for the child. He was only so small.”

Dad reached out and wiped my tears. The warmth of his fingers across my cheek brought a sense of comfort.

“You’re my only daughter, my most precious thing. I never blamed you, nor have I ever stopped you from doing what you wanted. You’re stubb