I took my daughter, terminally ill with stage 4 cancer, to get to know the ocean and fulfill her last wish, but then the hotel manager knocked on our door and said, “There’s something about this journey that you don’t know.”

How could you hide this from me?

“Because Emily’s wish was more important than my anger or your pride.

That man abandoned us.

I know. I’ve never defended him. But when he came to see me, he fell on his knees and begged me to let him do at least one good thing for his daughter.

My father’s voice broke.

“Sarah, I didn’t accept his money for him. I did it for Emily.

I lowered the phone and continued reading.

“I’m not asking you to forgive me.

I’m also not asking you to talk to Emily about me.

But if you ask who gave him the music box, please don’t tell him it comes from a good father.

Tell him he was a man who understood too late everything he had lost.

I’m here, at the hotel, but I’m not going to your room without your permission.

If you never want to see me again, I’ll understand.