After a shower and a granola bar, I headed to my dad's house. I normally called ahead to let him know that I was coming, but I didn't this time. With so many other things running wild through my mind, I just forgot. If he asked, I'd say I wanted to surprise him.
It would be a surprise because I was a terrible daughter and I didn't visit enough. Even with, or maybe because of, the fear that his illness caused me, I couldn't bring myself to brave the awkwardness of visiting him for longer than an hour at a time.
I tried to justify my absence by reminding myself that he had Dex to look after him, but I knew that was just an excuse. It wasn't fair to Dex either.
I knocked on the door and waited. I knew he'd be home. He hadn't gone back to work yet and he didn't go anywhere else. The door
