As Tan and Daisy walked into the hospital room, the familiar scent of antiseptic filled the air, but what stood out more than the sterile environment was the quiet tension hanging between them all. They carried the packed food, a small gesture of normalcy amid everything else. The room was filled with the soft beeping of machines, and for a moment, Tan felt a pang of dread at the sight of Fang, Phum, phum and Q Toey sitting there, their expressions unreadable.
Daisy, though visibly stronger now, still walked with a hesitant air. As soon as she entered, Fang’s gaze shot to her. His eyes widened with a mix of relief and pain, and before anyone could react, he stood up quickly. His hands shook slightly as he reached for her, his voice catching in his throat.
“Daisy,” he whispered, breaking down. He wrapped his arms around her in a tight, almost desperate hug. “I thought I might never get to see you again… I’m so sorry for everything.”
Daisy stood still at first, the weight of his words hitting her deep. She could feel his tears on her hair, and despite the pain in her chest, a small sob escaped her. She clung to him tighter, her voice shaky but full of remorse. “I’m sorry, Papa. I was so scared. I hurt you… I don’t deserve anything, Papa. You can punish me however you want…”
Fang’s heart broke at her words. He gently pulled back, his hands cupping her face as he looked at her, his own tears welling up. “No, Daisy. You didn’t hurt me. It’s not your fault, none of this is your fault.”
He held her tighter again, trying to make her understand that it wasn’t her who caused all the pain. “You’ve always been the light in my life, Daisy. Never think that you caused any of this.”
Daisy, still shaken, finally pulled away from the embrace. She looked up at her father, trying to steady herself. Her gaze flickered over to Marc, who was sitting quietly, his face full of guilt and shame.
Marc’s eyes immediately met hers, but Daisy avoided his gaze, her head tilting down slightly. The sight of her bandaged face, the same cut that Marc had accidentally inflicted on her, was more than he could bear. It was like a deep cut in his own heart. His hands clenched in his lap, fighting the urge to apologize, but he knew words wouldn’t change anything now.
Daisy then shifted the atmosphere by speaking up, her voice softer but filled with resolve. “Let’s eat, everyone,” she said, trying to change the focus from all the heavy emotions. “I brought food for everyone, Papa. It’s your favorite.”
Her attempt to bring everyone back to normal was a quiet act of bravery, and though Tan could see the weight still on her shoulders, he admired her for trying to make things right.
Daisy turned toward her uncles Phum, Peem and QToey first, offering a small, genuine smile. She then looked at Jelly and Ciize, who were sitting quietly by the bed. She gave them a small smile too, but it was softer, as if she was still uncertain. They smiled back, their eyes filled with understanding. They knew how much Daisy had been through, and though they didn’t say anything, their presence was enough.
Daisy then focused on the task at hand setting up the food. She carefully placed the containers on the table by the bed, arranging the dishes and making sure there was enough for everyone. She moved quickly, trying to keep her hands busy. But despite her efforts, the tension in the room lingered, and everyone could feel it.
As she worked, fang noticed the bandages on her face, the same bandages Marc had put on him earlier. He couldn’t help but feel a deep sadness for his daughter, but he kept it to himself for the moment.
Fang couldn’t take his eyes off the bandages. He glanced over at Marc, his eyes silently asking him to approach. Marc hesitated, but with a small, guilty nod, he stood up. He knew he had to say something.
