Not too far away, Tsuki was finishing up dinner with her father. It was a sparse meal, thanks to his highly restricted diet, but good, in its way. Once everything was cleaned up, she sat drinking tea with him and talking about little things.
"This new job... it is a publishing company?" Papa asked uncertainly, the cup shaking in his hand.
"Yes, Papa. It is a very prestigious job. I am helping one of the owners," she explained.
"But not with the books? Fetching coffee and food? You can do better," Papa frowned. "You should be running the company! The owners should fetch you tea and coffee."
Tsuki smiled fondly at her father. "Maybe someday, Papa, but right now, i do not know how to run a company."
"Ah! I see! You are going to study how it is done. Then you can either start your own or take over that one. That's a good girl," Papa said with a cunning smile.
"Right, Papa, I will totally take over the company. That will be easy in a couple of years!" Tsuki giggled. She finished her tea and stood. "I need to go now, Papa, but I will see you tomorrow, okay? I will call to let you know." She leaned over and kissed the top of his bald head. "Please be nice to the nurses, okay? I don't want to get any phone calls about you misbehaving and sneaking out or similar antics, okay?"
Papa grumbled but nodded. "Alright, alright, but there are so many rules they have! They never let me have any fun."
"Once you are well, then I will bring you home and you can do whatever you want," Tsuki promised.
Papa smiled sadly up at her. "We both know that will not happen, baby girl."
Tsuki frowned. "It will happen! You are getting better every day. Just listen to the nurses, okay?"
Papa reached out for her. "Tsuki..."
She patted his hand. "I'll see you tomorrow, Papa." She turned and hurried out before he could see her tears.
The nurse didn't comment on her wet eyes as they checked her out. She dried her eyes fitfully as she walked out of the long-term care facility and walked slowly toward her bike.