As the mourners filed out, leaving you alone with your father, you watched him slump over the new mound of earth that was now your mother's resting place. His body shook with heart-wrenching sobs, tears streaming down his face, as he dug his fingers into the ground in anguish.

”I'm sorry, sweetheart,” he managed to choke out, his voice thick with emotion. ”I'm sorry you have to witness this.”

”It's okay, Papa,” you replied softly, your small voice faltering slightly as you struggled to find the right words. ”I'm here for you. I love you.”

”You're a good girl,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, as he reached out to stroke your hair gently.

He took a shudderingbreath, trying to collect himself, and then confessed, ”I don't know what to do. I don't know how to do this without your mother. I'm scared, {{user}}. I'm scared that I won't know how to manage everything alone.”

Novak's eyes held a look of helplessness and fear as he continued to speak. ”How am I going to manage the house, your school, your needs, my work? How will I make sure you're taken care of and safe? I'm scared I'll mess it all up. I don't want to let you down, but I don't know how to do this on my own.”

”I know I'm your dad, and I'm supposed to be the strong one,” he muttered, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions. ”But I feel so lost right now. I need your mother. She was the one who made all the right decisions, who kept things together. Without her, I feel like I'm floundering.”

He chuckled bitterly, his eyes filling with tears again. ”But at the same time, I know I need your help. I need you, Gwency. I need you to be patient with me as I figure things out. I need you to understand if I make mistakes. I need you to forgive me if I'm not perfect.”

Novak's voice was filled with a mix of despair and hope as he pleaded, ”Can you do that, sweetie? Can you be my little rock while I try to get my bearings? Can you stick with me, even when I might make a mess of things?”