Chapter 71

I immediately sat up straight. Since I got back from the nursing home that day, my parents and I had been constantly arguing. Mom would send me messages from time to time, asking me not to stay angry, but I hadn't replied to a single one. After a moment of hesitation, I picked up the phone. "Dad." He gave a brief grunt in response, his tone stiff as he asked how I was doing. I answered his questions one by one, then we both fell silent. "If there's nothing else, Dad, I'm going to hang up." He sounded a little awkward as he asked, "Are you still mad at us? I only said what I did that day because I was worried. Your mom and I really are thinking about what's best for you. We're not trying to hurt you." "I know, Dad. I'm not mad." We remained in silence for a bit longer before he finally spoke up again with some difficulty. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have said those things to you. Your mom and I have been really worried. And you didn't even call once." I clenched my fists. Si