PART 2
I stared at the sentence until the letters began to melt before my eyes.
« Sarah, your father didn’t pay for this trip. I did. »
The letter was from Mark .
Liam’s father.
A man who disappeared from our lives four years ago.
I read on.
« I know that one paid trip doesn’t make up for what I did. But when Thomas told me that Liam wanted to see the ocean, I begged him to at least let me do this one thing for my son. »
I called my father immediately.
“Dad… did you know?”
It was quiet for a long time.
« Yes. »
« You lied to me. »
You would never have accepted Mark’s money.
« He has left us. »
‘I know,’ Dad said softly. ‘But he came to me a few months ago. He didn’t ask me to forgive him. He only asked about Liam.’
I got Mark’s letter out again.
« When Liam got sick, I convinced myself that I was leaving because I couldn’t bear to see him suffer like that. »
The truth is that I was selfish.
I was startled and ran away.
« I abandoned my son when he needed me most. »
Then I came to the last lines.
« I am downstairs in the hotel lobby. »
I won’t come to you if you don’t want me to.
If Liam wants to see me, I’ll wait.
Liam looked at me.
“Mom… how is Mark?”
I sat down next to him.
« He is your father. »
His eyes grew wide.
That father who lives so far away?
« Yes. »
Is he here?
I nodded.
Then Liam asked a question that broke my heart.
« Did he leave because I am different? »
« No, honey. »
I took his hands.
« It is absolutely not because you have Down syndrome. »
« Because I got sick? »
« He was afraid. »
Liam frowned.
« But you were afraid too. »
« Yes. »
« And you stayed. »
I could not give an answer.
After a moment he whispered:
« I want to see him. »
We went down together.
Mark stood by the window in the lobby.
He looked older, thin, and exhausted.
He froze when he saw Liam.
Then he slowly knelt down.
« Hello, Liam. »
Liam held my hand tightly.
« Are you really my father? »
« Yes. »
« Why didn’t you come visit me? »
Mark lowered his head.
« Because I was a coward. »
Liam looked at him intently.
« I was scared in the hospital. »
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