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Needing Care

September 14, 2022 27 Comments

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I went to him because that’s what I always did when life became too much, but I wasn’t thinking. My eyes were puffy, crumpled divorce papers thrown into the back seat, and all I knew was that I needed my dad.

I made it to the door of his meal room before it hit me: others laughed and chatted, but he sat alone while a nurse with a sing-song voice spoon-fed him.

His eyes lit up as I approached. “H-how are things?” he rasped.

I squeezed his shoulders and smiled. “Perfect,” I lied, and then kissed him gently on the cheek.

By Frances Koziar

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Yogita says

    September 14, 2022 at 7:09 am

    OMG..so beautiful ?. Loved it ?

    Reply
    • Yogita says

      September 14, 2022 at 11:16 am

      Sorry for the question mark after the words beautiful and ‘loved it’ in my earlier comment..actually I had typed an emoji but I guess it got changed to a question mark..lol

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        September 14, 2022 at 4:30 pm

        Sweet, in a sad way. The instinctual need for the father coupled with realizing he needs his own care was artfully done. I love how they knew in the end they had to protect him, even as their life felt too much. Wonderful display of love.

        Reply
    • Warner Williams says

      September 16, 2022 at 12:56 pm

      Awesome. Poor child, lost her only refuge. Good story

      Reply
  2. Derek says

    September 14, 2022 at 7:17 am

    This is a very good sensitive story.

    Reply
  3. Joanie says

    September 14, 2022 at 7:18 am

    Powerful! A perfect lie. Great piece.

    Reply
  4. Meghashri Dalvi says

    September 14, 2022 at 7:47 am

    Great story! So much packed powerfully in just 100 words.

    Reply
  5. Kevin says

    September 14, 2022 at 7:53 am

    Wonderful. We all need perspective.

    Reply
  6. Caroline says

    September 14, 2022 at 8:25 am

    Really poignant comment on old age and parent child relationships

    Reply
  7. Mehr says

    September 14, 2022 at 8:30 am

    The story is brilliant, I think it could use a better name, though.

    Reply
  8. James R Coffey says

    September 14, 2022 at 8:40 am

    Sweet!

    Reply
  9. albert Norman katz says

    September 14, 2022 at 9:14 am

    A lovely story. Poignant and real. I would suggest changing the word “lied” to something less obvious such as “perfect’ or “wonderful” ( a bit of hyperbole given the context makes it clear that she is lying). Anyway unsolicited 2 cents. I loved this story

    Reply
  10. Yolanda Joosten says

    September 14, 2022 at 9:51 am

    Beautiful story!

    Reply
  11. Rabab says

    September 14, 2022 at 10:02 am

    Beautiful story .

    Reply
  12. Coco says

    September 14, 2022 at 10:46 am

    Heartfelt and touching.

    Nicely done!

    Reply
  13. Judyanna says

    September 14, 2022 at 10:47 am

    Ouch!

    Some lies are true. The perfect part is that you have your dad in your heart, wherever he is, or you end up.

    And you enlivened your love in my heart.

    Thank you.

    Reply
  14. Wendy M says

    September 14, 2022 at 10:53 am

    Lovely story, heartwarming and emotive, well done

    Reply
  15. Toni Brayer says

    September 14, 2022 at 11:01 am

    A perfect story. Loved it

    Reply
  16. Chetana Vaishnavi says

    September 14, 2022 at 12:20 pm

    Heart touching, both ways.

    Reply
  17. Joyce Jacobo says

    September 14, 2022 at 3:15 pm

    Goodness, that was touching in so many ways. Beautiful.

    Reply
  18. Doug Jacquier says

    September 14, 2022 at 9:10 pm

    The fact that he recognised you made this all the more poignant. Well written.

    Reply
  19. Tom Baldwin says

    September 14, 2022 at 9:52 pm

    A life-long love story, beautifully written.

    Reply
  20. Dee Lorraine says

    September 15, 2022 at 8:52 am

    An excellent title for a story full of love.

    Reply
  21. Richard Temple says

    September 16, 2022 at 7:56 pm

    Ouch. Sad and painful. Very poignant

    Reply
  22. Lyn says

    September 17, 2022 at 8:07 am

    It’s a lovely story. You could tighten the writing a little by losing unnecessary words such as ‘that’. Someone else has commented on your title, and I have to agree. A stronger title is needed I think.

    Reply
  23. Valli Henry-Boldini says

    September 19, 2022 at 12:35 pm

    Beautiful written… kudos…

    Reply
  24. Valli Henry-Boldini says

    September 19, 2022 at 12:36 pm

    ps. Sorry…that should have read… beautifully written…

    Reply

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