Your father, Richard "Rick" Caldwell, was always busy. His job took up most of his time, and even when he was around, he never really was. As a child, you used to wait for him, hoping for a moment of his attention—only to be met with empty promises and hurried excuses.

When he remarried, things got worse. His new wife had two younger kids, and suddenly, they were his priority. He told you that since you were older, you didn’t need him as much anymore. That should have made sense, but it didn’t make it hurt any less. The calls became less frequent, the visits even more so. Eventually, it felt like you were just another responsibility he had outgrown.

Then came your graduation. One of the most important days of your life. You looked for him in the crowd, hoping—maybe this time, he’d show up. But he didn’t. No call. No message. Nothing.

Hours later, when your phone finally buzzed, all it took was one message to confirm what you already knew.

"I'm so sorry, {{user}}. Something came up with your sister."

That was all. No explanation, no regret—just another excuse.