Minnie POV
Before starting our ride to home, I sent a short message to my father said "mom is discharged from the hospital. We are on the way home." I don't know why I sent it.Maybe a small part of me still believed his words from yesterday... when he said he would change. Or maybe I was just tired of carrying anger in my heart.
But another thought crossed my mind- What if he already went back to drinking? sighed deeply and kept my phone inside my bag.
When we reached home, I opened the door slowly and helped my mom walk inside. Sara carried the bags behind us. Just as we stepped into the living room, a voice came from the kitchen.
Dad: "Wait... don't come inside yet. Sit at the dining table. I'm making breakfast."
I froze.
I turned to Sara with wide eyes.
"What the-?" I whispered.
Sara covered her mouth, shocked. "Minnie... is this real?"
I helped Mom sit on the sofa carefully, still unable to believe what I was seeing.
My father came out of the kitchen wearing an apron, holding a spoon in one hand.
Mom: (confused, looking around) "Minnie... what is happening here? Am I dreaming? If this is a dream, please don't wake me up."
Her voice trembled.
I swallowed hard. "Mom... I think I'm dreaming too."
Sara leaned closer to me and whispered, "Your house looks like a cooking show today."
I gave her a nervous smile. "Yeah... starring my father."
Dad avoided our eyes and spoke softly, "Go and sit. Food will be ready in five minutes."
Mom's eyes filled with tears. She held my hand tightly.
Mom: "I prayed for this moment for years, Minnie... just one morning like this."
I didn't know what to feel-hope, fear, or disbelief.
I looked at Sara, and she squeezed my hand gently.
Sara: "Maybe... this time he really means it." i nodded slowly, watching my father move inside the kitchen again.
Dad: "Breakfast is ready. Let's eat first... and then we can talk."
We slowly went to the dining table. The moment I looked at the plates, my eyes widened in shock. Every dish was our favorite-mine and Mom's.
I stared at him, confused and scared at the same time, was this real... or just another moment before everything broke again?
Sara tried to smile and break the silence.
Sara: "Wow, uncle... it's been so long since I ate your cooking."
Her voice was polite but careful. I knew why.
Once upon a time, he was a kind man. A loving father but for years, he had become someone we were afraid to speak to.
We all sat down and started eating quietly, Only the sound of spoons touching plates filled the room.
After a few minutes, my father suddenly kept his spoon down. He turned toward my mom slowly, his eyes full of guilt. Then, without warning, he held her hands tightly.
Dad : "Princy... I'm sorry."
My mom froze.
Dad : "I am sorry for everything. For the pain... for the fear... for the years I wasted. I was not a good husband. I was not a good father."
His voice trembled.
Dad : "I lost my business... and I lost myself. Drinking, gambling... I thought I could escape my failures. But all I did was destroy my family."
Tears filled his eyes.
Dad : "Please... give me one last chance. I will change. I swear. I will work again. Any job. I will support you as a husband should. I don't want to lose you."
My mom's eyes filled with tears.
Mom : "Thomas... do you know how many nights Minnie and I cried because of you? Do you know how scared I was yesterday when I fell?"
Her voice broke.
Mom : "I loved you against my family's wishes. I believed in you. And for years... I felt like I made the wrong choice."
Thomas lowered his head.
Mom : "When I first met you in college... you were so shy. You couldn't even look at me when I spoke to you. That's why I fell in love with you. You were pure. You were kind. I loved you madly, Princy... and I forgot that love needs responsibility."
He squeezed her hands.
Dad : "I don't deserve forgiveness... but I beg for
My mom cried silently.
Mom : "I don't know if I can forget everything... but for Minnie's sake... and for the man you once were... I will try."
Sara looked at me with wet eyes. I couldn't speak. My throat felt tight, as if all the words were stuck inside. We quietly left the dining area, giving Mom and Dad some space to talk. Neither of us said anything until we reached my room.
I sat down on the bed slowly, still in shock about everything that had happened at the dining table. My mind couldn't accept it.
Sara came and sat beside me. She gently shook my shoulder and smiled through her tears.
Sara: "Minnie... did that really just happen? Your dad... apologizing... cooking breakfast..."
I hugged her tightly, afraid this moment would disappear if I let go.
Minnie: "It feels like a dream, Sara. A dream I don't want to wake up from."
My voice broke.
Minnie: "What if tomorrow he becomes the same again? What if this is just for one day?"
Sara pulled back and held my face.
Sara: "Hey... even one honest apology is a beginning. You saw his eyes, Minnie. He meant it."
I wiped my tears.
Minnie: "I waited my whole life to hear him say sorry to my mom. I thought it would never happen."
Sara smiled softly.
Sara: "Maybe your mom's accident shook him. Maybe he finally understood what he was about to lose."
I looked at the door where my parents were still talking.
Minnie: "I don't know if I can trust him again... but today, for the first time, our house felt like a home."
Sara leaned her head on my shoulder.
Sara: "Then keep this moment safe in your heart. Even broken families can heal... slowly."
I hugged her again, tighter this time.
Minnie: "Promise me... if everything breaks again, you won't leave me alone."
Sara laughed softly through her tears.
Sara: "Idiot... where will I go? I'm stuck with you for life. And don't forget, our final semester is getting close. We have to prepare for that too."
I sighed and smiled.
"Yeah... we need to prepare. After graduation, I have to go to my dream job in a product company, you know," I said proudly.
Sara grinned. "Yes, you will, my bestie!" But suddenly her smile faded a little, I noticed it immediately. "Hey... what happened?"
I took a deep breath and finally said what was inside my heart.
"Will hasn't talked to me since yesterday. Every day he used to message me and check on me. I sent him a message saying Mom is discharged and we came home... but he still didn't reply."
My voice became softer.
"I don't know what I did wrong, Sara. Or... did he hear what I told you about my feelings for him?"
Sara raised her eyebrows dramatically.
Sara: "Ohhh... so Madam Heroine is worried now?"
I looked at her helplessly. "Don't joke, Sara. I'm serious."
She laughed and poked my forehead.
Sara: "Relax, emotional queen. Don't overthink. Maybe he's busy. Maybe his phone died. Maybe he's watching some boring movie and forgot the world."
I gave her a doubtful look. "You think so?"
Sara: "Yes. And even if he heard something... what will happen? He will faint? Run away? Or propose to you?"
I rolled my eyes. "Sara!"
She hugged me.
Sara: "Minnie... you've had too much drama for two days. Hospital, father apology, emotions... now don't create one more movie in your head."
I smiled weakly.
Minnie: "I just don't want to lose him."
Sara looked at me softly.
Sara: "Then trust him a little. And if he is really your friend... he will come back with an explanation."
She winked. "Until then, focus on your dream job, future CEO."
In the evening, I decided to go to the coffee shop. I wanted to give some space to my mom and dad... time they badly needed to talk and heal. At first, my mom didn't allow me to go back to work.
Mom: "You should rest, Minnie. Stay with me."
I held her hand gently. "Mom, I'll be fine. Appa will be here with you. Just for a few hours."
I looked at my dad and said in one line, "Take care of her."
He nodded quietly.
It will take time to heal from everything he did. Only time can tell the truth.
For now, I just wanted my mom to be happy.
Sara dropped me at the coffee shop and waved before leaving.
When I went inside, Maya saw me and ran toward me. She hugged me so tightly that I couldn't breathe.
I tapped her shoulder and laughed. "Hey... leave me, I need oxygen!"
She stepped back and smiled widely.
Maya: "Finally you're back! I really missed you!"
I raised my eyebrows and teased her.
Minnie: "Oh really? You missed me... or you couldn't handle all the work alone... or you couldn't handle our manager?"
Maya crossed her arms dramatically.
Maya: "Both! Your coffee skills and your emotional support were missing."
I laughed. "So I'm important only for coffee and complaints?"
She pulled me again in a half hug.
Maya: "No, idiot. You're important because this place feels empty without your smile"
My heart felt warm, for the first time after all the hospital drama, the smell of coffee and Maya's silly words made me feel normal again.
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Author Note
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