On my 80th birthday, all I wanted was to see my daughter, so I decided to surprise her with a visit. When she opened the door, she seemed nervous and asked, “Dad, what are you doing here?”
I smiled and replied, “I just wanted to spend my birthday with you.” Her response, however, caught me off guard. “Dad, you can’t stay. I’ve got a lot going on.”
Feeling hurt, I offered to wait on the sofa until she was free, but she insisted, “No, Dad, you really need to leave right now.” As I reluctantly walked back to my car, I heard noises coming from inside the house. My concern grew, so I glanced through the window and saw two strangers moving around inside. Fearing for her safety, I called the police.
The officers arrived within minutes and cautiously approached the house. After a tense few moments, they emerged with the two strangers in handcuffs. My daughter, tears streaming down her face, rushed out to hug me. “Dad, I’m so sorry,” she sobbed. “I was trying to protect you. Those men broke in just before you arrived. I didn’t know what to do, and I didn’t want you to get hurt.”
Relief washed over me as I held her close. “It’s alright, sweetheart. I’m just glad you’re safe.”
After giving our statements to the police, who assured us that the intruders would face justice, my daughter and I spent the rest of the day together. It turned out to be the most memorable birthday I could have asked for.