My daughter’s letter explained his promise; it didn’t erase what abandonment in that hallway had felt like.

“I love you,” I said, because it was true.

“And I’m furious with you.”

He nodded.

“Both can be true.”

We remained in silence for a long time.

Finally, he said, “The people you saw are Chloe’s parents.

They came to the hospital because her transplant team called them about a possible organ offer.