Sam didn't answer right away. His eyes welled with tears, bitter ones that didn't quite fall. "Chay… I would give anything to rewind time. Just for you. Only for you," he said. "I would do everything right. Just… to be with you."
She snorted softly, bitterly. "Well, there's no rewind button, Dad. There's just play. And unfortunately, I'm the one who has to keep watching the damn movie."
Sam reached across the table but she pulled back.
"I know I don't deserve your forgiveness," he said, eyes locked to hers. "But I want you to know… I was proud. I am proud. Of who you are. Of how strong you are."
"I have to go, Dad," Chay said abruptly, her chair scraping across the floor as she rose, the metal-on-concrete sound almost as harsh as her voice.
"No… Chay… wait," Sam called out, reaching for her across the narrow metal table. But she was already turning away.
She couldn't do this. Not right now. Maybe not ever again.
