Chapter 4: The Cost of Absence
The house was empty by midnight.
No music. No laughter. Just silence—and truth.
Ethan sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, watching his father like he was trying to understand who he really was.
Daniel sat across from him, guilt heavy in his chest.
“I thought I was doing this for you,” he said quietly.
Ethan didn’t respond.
“I thought… if I worked harder, earned more, gave you everything… it would be enough.”
Still silence.
Then Ethan spoke.
“I didn’t need everything.”
Daniel looked up.
“I just needed you.”
The words hit harder than anything else that night.
No accusation. No anger.
May you like
Just truth.
And that truth was undeniable.
