After my wife passed away, I didn’t see my daughter often, though we spoke daily. On my 80th birthday, all I wanted was to see her, so I decided to surprise her by visiting her apartment. When she opened the door, she looked uneasy and surprised. “Dad, what are you doing here?” she asked, her voice hesitant.
I smiled and said, “I just wanted to spend my birthday with you.” Her expression changed, and after a moment, she replied, “Dad, you can’t stay. I have a lot going on right now. I’m sorry, but this isn’t a good time.” I was stunned. She had never treated me like this before. Feeling hurt, I said, “Okay, I’ll wait on the sofa until you’re free.” But she was firm, nearly pushing me out the door. “No, Dad, you really need to leave now.”
Reluctantly, I turned to go, but something didn’t feel right. As I walked to my car, I heard noises coming from inside the apartment. Curiosity got the better of me, and I glanced through the living room window. I saw two strangers moving quickly inside.
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