" The doctor called," Lucy said to her mom. “ So? What should I do? It isn't the first time he's been to the hospital. We're divorced, Lucy. Don't make me explain what it means.”

Tears stung her eyes. She held her breath...yet, the reality didn't change. Watching her mom, who was back to her business in the kitchen, she muttered the words that would cripple her for life. " He's brain dead," she said and left the house.

Lucy's father had an affair with his secretary. When he finally came clean, his wife had gotten wind of it from elsewhere. Forgiveness wasn't something she could bestow to her marriage of twenty years. Lucy was going to turn eighteen the next day, but fate wasn't smiling on her. 

That noon, her father had brought up the idea of a family picnic for her birthday. Her mom rejected the suggestion. An hour later, she was informed he was in the hospital and was asking for his family. Her mom hissed in reply, but moments later the flood came...and it carried him.

Lucy went to the proposed location of the picnic and broke down. “ Daddy, it's tomorrow. How do I turn eighteen without you by my side?”

But she did. 

Surprisingly, at 12 am the next day, Lucy's phone vibrated. It was a timed message from her father's line. 

“ Apart or together, never forget you're your father's daughter and his little shield maiden...and Lucy... don't make the mistake I made. You must do better than me.”