na's

completely absorbed in prep

ing 3D simulations of complex surgical procedures. I came home late and lo

e giving me the silent treatment as well. We were like t

erson to br

he guest room, she darted out of her o

ed. "Mommy, can... can you make me you

had reached out to me sinc

my resolve softened for a second. But I quickly h

ntdown. I remembere

Mommy is very busy right now. I don't have time to cook. If you want so

s began to roll down her cheeks. "

e things... Please don't leave me..." Her apology for wishing Savan

took a tissue and wiped her tears, but my voice rem

y own protection, and it was a lesson for her. Words have

the guest room, locki

ned against the door, closed my eyes, a

. I hesitated. In the end, I didn't add an entry. Mia's apology,

er's

he medical summit. It was one of the Harringto

y office, eager to report

y, Mo

n't even look up. I simply continued

she do t

continuing to scroll through

telling me everything

fragments. I didn't

nger sudden

f names fille

... names I had seen countless tim

I saw t

a Sin

t, I forgot

, no doctorate, no impressiv

imple, b

a Sin

everal seconds, wondering if

looked

still

was

w

ng beyond arranging flowers, choosing dres

attendee list for a top-

d checked th

she reg

s she

d let

about it, the mor

ying and saying something, but for t

ined fixed o

rhaps, all this time, I hadn't rea

ad

was ignoring her,

e summit poster on my screen, sp

to go too! I wa

looked u

go to the summit and apologize to Mommy in fr

answer im

e her daughter, and then explain everything that had happened during all this time, I