The Warmth of a Father's Love

It was a stormy day, and I was packing my things to head back to my hometown. The rain was heavy, the streets were flooded, and traffic was stuck, so I arrived at the bus station five minutes late. Luckily, the bus was still waiting, but I got scolded by the driver for making everyone wait.

Inside, I felt a little sad and guilty because my lateness had caused inconvenience for others. I was also tired as the cold rain soaked through my clothes, leaving me drenched. There were still over three hours left before I would reach home, so I texted my dad:

"Dad, could you meet me at the road later? Can you bring me a pair of sandals? It's raining hard, and I'm soaked. My shoes are wet, so I'm going barefoot now."

My dad called back and asked,

"Where are you now? I'll come pick you up later. Call me when you're close."

…

That person is not my biological dad, but my stepdad.

My dad is gentle and always smiling. He’s a warm person who takes care of and loves the family.

Even though he now goes to work later than my mom, he still wakes up very early to buy breakfast and take the bike out to the yard, ready for my mom to leave.

Whenever he hears that I’m coming home, he goes to the garden a few days in advance to pick all my favorite fruits and tells my mom, "Save them for our daughter when she comes back so she can enjoy them."

Back when I was working with a low salary, every time he took me to the bus station to head back to Saigon, he would slip some money into my hand and quietly say, "Don’t let your mom know!" Many times I refused to accept it, but he insisted, "I’ll manage at home, just take it so you can eat well while you’re there."

Talking about my dad’s love, I could never fully express it. I just know that I love him very much too!

…

The bus stopped at the alley, and I saw my dad waiting from a distance, holding a pair of flip-flops. As soon as I got off the bus, he walked over, placed the sandals down, and said:

"Put these on, give me your backpack and shoes."

"Have you been waiting long, Dad?"

"I came out when you texted me from the town entrance."

It takes about 40 minutes from the town entrance to my house, yet my dad had come out so early to wait. At that moment, the sadness inside me was gone, and all that remained was the warm love from my dad.

Title: The Warmth of a Father's Love

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