THE SILENCE OF A FATHER….

he used on weekends.

It was like my father had been erased.

And Linda was standing in the doorway guarding the eraser.

“I need to see him,” I said, voice cracking. “I need—”

“There’s nothing to see,” she replied. “It’s over.”

Then, before I could force another word out, she closed the door.

Not slammed.

Just closed—slow, deliberate—like she was ending a conversation she’d been tired of for a long time.

I stood there staring at the door, my hand still raised from knocking, like my body hadn’t caught up