I am Daniel, a third-year college student. Since my mother passed away five years ago, my father has lived alone in the countryside. I thought he would remain lonely forever, never remarry. But then, one late afternoon, the phone rang.

“Daniel, come home this weekend, I have something important to tell you.” My father’s voice was low, steady, and unusual.

I grew anxious. Something important? Dad rarely spoke much, and he almost never called unless to ask about my studies. That night, I couldn’t close my eyes.

On Saturday morning, I took the long bus ride back to my hometown. The old country road, the rows of trees, the weathered rooftops—all felt strangely distant to me. When I stepped into the yard, the door opened…

Dad was standing there. Beside him was a woman. For a moment, I froze. My eyes drifted down to her belly—round, unmistakable—hiding a truth I couldn’t deny. My lips trembled, my chest tight:

– No… this can’t be…

The woman lifted her gaze. And my world collapsed. It was Sophia. Sophia – my old high school classmate. Sophia – the girl I had secretly adored through all my teenage years, but never dared to confess to.

My legs refused to move, my mind spun. The sight before me shattered everything inside. Dad stepped forward nervously, his lips stumbling:

– Son… please, let me explain…

But I couldn’t bear it. Tears blurred my vision as I turned and ran, ignoring my father’s desperate cries behind me.

I ran straight to the riverside, the place where I once flew kites as a boy and sat with my mother on breezy afternoons. Dropping down, I clutched my head and screamed into the wind. Why Sophia? Why the one person who had filled my silent dreams? And now she stood by my father, carrying his child.

By dusk, Dad found me. He sat beside me, his voice heavy with age and sadness.

“Daniel, I know this is hard. But I can’t hide it anymore. I’ve been alone for years, and I was unbearably lonely. Sophia came into my life by chance. We leaned on each other. She cares for me… and she cares for you too.”

I shot up, staring into his weary eyes, my voice cracking with pain:

– Do you even realize? I loved her! She was my youth, my everything! And now she’s your wife. Do you understand what that does to me?!

Dad froze, his eyes reddened, but his tone remained steady.

“I didn’t know. If I had… maybe things would be different. But Daniel, you must understand—teenage love is just a memory. Right now, Sophia and the baby need a family.”

I laughed bitterly. His words pierced me like a blade.

The next day, Sophia came to find me. Her voice trembled, her eyes searching mine.

– Daniel… I’m sorry. I know you cared for me once, but we were too young. I cared for you too, but I never thought we’d have a future. Life took its path, and somehow, it led me to your father. I never meant to hurt you.

I clenched my fists, my throat tight:

– You say you didn’t want to hurt me, yet you chose my dad. Do you know how unbearable that is?

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms protectively over her swollen belly. Watching her, I felt torn—anger and pity colliding inside me.

That night, I opened the old drawer where my mother’s last letter was kept. Her familiar handwriting read:

– “Daniel, I only hope you live with kindness, learn to love, and cherish your family. If one day your father remarries, please forgive him. Don’t let him grow old alone.”

My tears soaked the paper. My heart cracked, yet her words gave me strength.

On the wedding day, I stood outside the gate. Dad wore a modest suit. Sophia, in a flowing white dress, gently rested her hands on her belly. My chest twisted painfully. I wanted to storm in, to shout “No!” But my feet were rooted to the ground.

Instead, I left a letter at the door:

“I can’t bless this, but I can’t hate you either. I’m leaving now. I hope you find happiness.”

Turning away, I walked down the road. Behind me, the wedding music rose, each note pressing down on my heart like stone.

My youth, my family. Everything collapsed in that single moment