Dad's Departure

Dad had been gone for three nights in a row and nobody seemed to know why. Mom spent the entire time in bed, and my brother took pretty good care of me. The phone rang, and I ran to get it, hoping she wouldn't answer first. It was dad asking how we were. I tried to be strong and not cry as I begged him to come back. He was in the middle of explaining that he would someday soon when mom snuck up behind me and pushed the button on the phone that made it hang up.