Broken Glass

Chapter 6: A Father's Desperation

John sat by his daughter's bedside, holding her hand, and praying for her to come back to him. The beeping machines and sterile smells of the hospital were a constant reminder of his failure as a father.
He felt like he had let Emily down, like he had abandoned her in her time of need.

As he watched his daughter sleep, John's mind raced with thoughts of guilt and regret. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was responsible for Emily's suicide attempt.

If only he had been more supportive, more understanding, maybe she wouldn't have felt so alone.

The doctors and psychiatrists came and went, asking John questions about Emily's behavior, her mood, her relationships. They spoke in hushed tones, using words like "depression" and "anxiety," but John didn't need them to tell him what he already knew. His daughter was hurting, and he didn't know how to help her.

One psychiatrist, a kind-faced woman with a gentle touch, sat down with John and explained that Emily's grief was complicated, that it was layered with feelings of guilt and anger. She told John that Emily needed a fresh start, a chance to escape the memories that haunted her.

As John listened, a spark of determination ignited within him. He knew what he had to do. He had to get Emily out of the city, away from the reminders of her mother's death. He had to find a place where she could heal, where she could start anew.

John thought about the small town his wife had always talked about, the one where she had grown up. It was a place of rolling hills and quiet streets, a place where people knew each other's names. It was a place where Emily could find peace.

With a newfound sense of purpose, John made the decision to leave the city behind. He would take Emily to the small town, to the place where his wife had found happiness. He would do whatever it took to help his daughter heal, to help her find her way again.

As he sat by Emily's bedside, holding her hand, John felt a sense of hope for the first time in months. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was willing to try. He was willing to do whatever it took to save his daughter.