Chapter 12 - A Father’s Fall
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When Leona reached the ICU room twenty minutes later, the atmosphere inside was unbearable.
Molly was standing near the window, her back turned to the bed, her arms wrapped tightly around her waist as tears streamed silently down her face.
Russell was sitting slightly propped up on his pillows. He was conscious, his right hand gripping the bedrail, his face contorted in deep shame as he stared at his daughter's back.
The bedside phone lay on the floor, its screen shattered where Molly had dropped it.
Leona walked into the room, quiet and firm, and closed the heavy door behind her.
"Molly," Leona said gently.
Molly turned around, her face blotchy and swollen. "How long, Mom? How long has he been doing this?"
Leona looked at Russell first. He shrank back against his pillows, unable to meet his wife's gaze, a broken whimpering sound escaping his twisted mouth.
"Six years," Leona answered truthfully, looking back at her daughter.
Molly let out a sharp gasp, placing her hand over her mouth. She looked at her father as if he were a complete stranger who had snuck into her family's life.
"Six years?" Molly screamed at him, stepping toward the foot of the bed. "My whole high school life? You were lying to us every single day?!"
Russell tried to speak, his right hand waving helplessly in the air.
"M... Molly... p... please..." he rasped out, tears running down his cheeks. "I... I... lo... love..."
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"Don't say you love me!" Molly sobbed, taking a step back toward the door. "You lied to Mom! You lied to me! You made a fool out of our whole family!"
Molly grabbed her purse from the chair and bolted out of the ICU room, the heavy door slamming shut behind her.
