He turned toward me.
“Dad… get out of the car.”
My chest tightened.
I slowly opened the door.
The mountain air was cold.
Sarah got out too.
Then she took my small bag from the trunk.
That was when I knew.
I looked at my son.
Then at my daughter.
“So this is it?”
Neither of them answered immediately.
My voice began to shake.
“You decided I’m too much trouble.”
Sarah’s face changed.
“Dad…”
“No.”
I stepped back.
“I heard you talking. I saw you taking my papers. My keys. You’ve been hiding things from me for weeks.”
Daniel moved closer, but I raised my hand.
“I’m sick. I’m not stupid.”
Sarah’s eyes filled with tears.
That only made me angrier.
“If you wanted to put me somewhere, you could at least have told me the truth.”
“Dad, please—”
“I am your father.”
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My voice broke on the last word.
I turned away from them because I did not want my children to see me cry.
I stared at the mountains.
For one terrible moment, I felt more alone than I had ever felt in my entire life.
Then I heard something behind me.
