_Mira's POV_
The next morning, my father returned home. Seeing him walk through the front door was a relief I hadn’t realized I needed. His steps were steadier than before, and the color had returned to his face, but the weariness in his eyes hadn’t gone away. He pulled me into a gentle hug, careful not to press too hard against my still-fragile frame.
“How are you feeling, Mira?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.
“I am fine, Dad,” I replied softly, though the heaviness in my limbs told a different story. “What about you? Are you really okay?”
He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I am better now that I am home with you. That’s all that matters.”
I could see through his brave front. He was still hurting—not just physically, but emotionally. The weight of everything th
