Chasing the Unexpected

“Nyla, I really didn’t mean to keep this from you. I just hadn’t figured out how to tell you… Your father is in really bad shape. The doctor said he might not have much time left…” Damon explained.

Nyla’s hands tightened slowly.

After a long pause, she replied, “I’m feeling really overwhelmed right now. I need a moment to calm down.” Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Seeing her pale face, Damon felt a twinge of concern. “Okay, I’ll stay with you.”

“No need,” Nyla said, rejecting his offer. 1

As soon as she spoke, the elevator arrived. She stepped inside, and Damon tried to follow, but a look from her stopped him in his tracks.

Nyla didn’t walk far, though. After exiting the elevator, she sat on a bench in a pavilion at the inpatient building, lost in thought.

Over the past few years, she hadn’t thought much about Harrison and hadn’t kept up with how he was doing. After all, they had ended things on such bad terms that she had lost all hope for him.

During their last meeting five years ago, although Harrison had been sick, he hadn’t looked like the frail shadow of his former self that she saw today.

When she had just seen him lying in that hospital bed, the patient gown seemingly oversized on him, his hands exposed and covered in age spots, he resembled a wilted leaf- dry and lifeless.

At that moment, she felt a mix of emotions, and any lingering resentment she had toward him disappeared. Despite how he had treated her later, only trusting Wren, he had genuinely cared for her and spoiled her like a princess during the years when the Harrisons weren’t bankrupt.

While Nyla was deep in thought, a child’s voice suddenly echoed. “Daddy, I want chocolate!

11

“No, you had some this morning. You can have more tomorrow,” a man replied.

“But I really want some… just a little! Mommy won’t find out, pretty please?” the little girl pleaded.

Nyla turned and saw a father and daughter walking along the path beside her.

The man held his daughter’s hand in one hand while carrying a bag filled with snacks in the other. The girl wore a patient gown, her hair styled in two buns, looking adorably

this.

His eyes instantly filled with tears, and his bony hand trembled as it reached for her. “Nyla

11

Feeling a lump in her throat, Nyla grasped his hand. “Dad, I’m sorry it took me so long.”

Harrison stared at her, eyes wide in disbelief, tears spilling from the corners. “Nyla, it’s really you! You actually came to see me?”

He had thought it was just another dream, but to his surprise, it was real. He choked up, his eyes fixed on her, terrified that this was just a dream.

Even if it was a dream, it was a good one. He had longed to see her again.

“Yes, Dad. I’ll come to see you every day from now on,” Nyla declared.

“Really?” Harrison asked as he grasped her hand tightly, his face alight with excitement.

“Really. I won’t hold grudges against you anymore,” Nyla promised.

Seeing the joy and tears of reunion on both their faces, Damon quietly stepped out of the ward to give them time alone.

After Damon left, Harrison wiped his eyes and forced himself to calm down. “Nyla, you must have had a tough time out there all these years.”

Nyla shook her head. “Not really.”

Noticing how much more composed she seemed compared to five years ago, sighed inwardly.

Harrison

How could it not have been hard for her? She was probably just saying that to spare him.

He didn’t press further but nodded and said, “It’s good that you’re back.”

Then, he started asking about where she was working now, and she answered each question.

Even though Nyla insisted she wasn’t struggling, Harrison could tell from her descriptions that she had not had an easy time these past few years.