Andrea continued speaking, her voice filled with pain and longing. "When I was just three years old, my father left us, and he never returned. I doubt I would even recognize him if he showed up now. Every evening, my mom would stand by the door, hoping against hope that he would come back, but he never did."
The expression on Mr. Singer's face changed dramatically, a mix of guilt, sorrow, and regret washing over him.
"My mom always believed that my dad would return one day, but he never did, not even when she fell ill. I was in 6th grade at that time, juggling two jobs after school to try to pay her hospital bills..." Andrea's voice broke, tears streaming down her face.
Mr. Singer's eyes were red and his fists clenched tightly, mirroring Andrea's pain.
Wiping away her tears, Andrea tur
