“Dad… My Back Hurts So Bad I Can’t Sleep. Mom Told Me Not to Tell You.” I Had Just Walked In From a Business Trip

Then her voice came from her bedroom.

Soft.

Weak.

Almost breaking.

“Dad?”

I turned.

She stood partly behind the bedroom door.

Pajamas.

Messy hair.

Bare feet.

Shoulders stiff.

Eyes fixed on the floor.

“Hey, bug.”

Normally she hated that nickname.