Tony nods, but the conflict in his eyes waisn’t reassuring. “Dad had a mild heart attack. There is some blockage in a small artery. Luckily, it doesn’t require surgery. His doctor says he needs to make some changes at home with his diet and exercise, and that he is going to be on medication, but he thinks dDad will be fine.”

Relief washes over me and my tears dry up. My biggest fear was that I would get to the hospital too late; that he’d be gone before I could see him. Knowing he is going to be fine helps ease that fear, but I still need to see him. I need to see with my own eyes that he’s still breathing.