Chapter 19

Leaving the cemetery, I unexpectedly encountered my father. Jackson must have contacted him, explaining his knowledge of my mother's camera and my return.

"Have you eaten?" he asked hesitantly.

"What do you want?" I responded coolly.

He paused. "Could you come home for a while?"

I couldn't suppress a bitter laugh. "You've always told me to stay away. I've respected your wishes, so why the sudden change?"

His voice quavered. "Your sister has cancer. I've tried everything... sold everything we could. You're her sister. Would you help her?" His face was etched with sorrow and regret. "I know you resent me, but pushing you away wasn't what I wanted. It wasn't my choice..." Pain filled his eyes. "You're my daughter. How could I ever want to send you away? I had my reasons."

I looked at him quietly, understanding our past's tangled misunderstandings. "I know," I said simply.

He seemed lost in thought. I recalled the day I received my college acceptance letter, overjoyed at following my mother's path into medicine. Racing home, I'd overheard him arguing with my aunt: "May will be starting college soon too. How can we possibly afford it?" "You've already raised her to adulthood. Isn't that enough?" "Harry! It's either her or me in this family!" I'd quietly closed the door and spent the afternoon alone. That summer, I lived in limbo, awaiting incomprehensible answers.

"You didn't want our home to crumble again, so you sacrificed me. Despite the pain, you sent me away," I said softly.

He tried to speak, but I continued, "I don't resent you. I understand. But as a daughter, I can say you're not a terrible father, but you're not a good one either."

I transferred 300,000 yuan to him. Over the years, he'd deposited money in my account, which I'd saved to repay him. "I've returned what you gave me. The rest... consider it payment for raising me. Please don't seek me out again," I added coldly.

Leaving the restaurant, I felt lighter; the burdens on my heart seemed to lift. I turned a corner and found myself at the flower shop where Joseph had bought my mother bird-of-paradise flowers. The owner recognized me, but the shop was nearly empty, its last flowerpots being loaded onto a truck.

"Where are you moving?" I asked.

She smiled. "We're closing! Time for something new."

I nodded. "That's alright."

She gathered the remaining lilies of the valley, hyacinths, and olive branches into a bouquet. "To new beginnings." We shared a warm embrace before parting.

Walking home under the painted sunset sky, I paused to appreciate the moment until my phone rang—the dean, his voice urgent.

"Joe, we need you back sooner than expected."

"What's happened?"

He sent me a news article: "Celestial Sea Conflict Intensifies, Multiple Pager Explosions Reported."

"The hospital thinks you're best suited for this—"

"I'm going," I cut in.

I pulled out the necklace bearing Joseph's dog tag and kissed it gently. I knew then that there would be no other path. Wherever the flames of war rise, that's where we're needed. We'll always believe that everyone in this world, no matter how deep their darkness, will find a glimmer of hope.