My heart raced, and a wave of fear washed over me. What was happening? Why were these people in my daughter’s home, and why was she acting so strangely? I decided to step away and call the police.
They arrived within minutes, approaching the apartment cautiously. After a tense wait, the officers came out, leading the two strangers in handcuffs. My daughter followed, tears streaming down her face. “Dad, I’m so sorry,” she cried, running to hug me. “I was trying to protect you. Those men broke in just before you arrived. I didn’t know what to do, and I didn’t want you to get hurt.”
Relief flooded over me, and I held her tight. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m just glad you’re safe.” The police took our statements and assured us that the intruders would face justice. My daughter and I ended up sitting on the same sofa I had planned to wait on earlier, and we spent the rest of the day together. Despite the scare, it turned out to be the best birthday I could have wished for. Knowing my daughter had tried to protect me made our bond even stronger.