Chapter 6: Reaching Out
Justin sat in his small apartment, staring at the flickering screen of his phone. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, poised to type. He had spent hours—days, even—deciding how to make contact. He knew it wouldn’t be easy. There was so much hurt, so much anger. He had left them all behind, without a word, without a trace. But he had to try.
His mind kept returning to that photo—the one of Lucy and Sloane at her graduation. It was as if that image had cracked open something deep inside him. He had abandoned them. He had been the one who left. But they had survived. They had thrived. It was the first time in years that Justin had truly felt the weight of his absence.
He had no idea what he was expecting—whether Lucy would even acknowledge him, whether one of the girls would still care. But as the pain in his side reminded him of his own mortality, Justin knew one thing for sure: he couldn’t die without trying to make things right.
The decision was made. He would go to New York. He would see if any of his daughters would help him. He had no illusions—they didn’t owe him anything. But he had to try.
As he booked the one-way ticket, his heart raced. The fear, the anxiety—it was overwhelming. What if they turned him away? What if they rejected him, just as he had rejected them? But as the flight was confirmed and the departure time loomed closer, Justin knew that there was no turning back.
It wasn’t just about survival anymore. It was about redemption.
But in his gut, he knew that facing them would come with consequences. There were no apologies that could erase the years of absence. No words that could undo the damage he had caused. And yet, he felt compelled to try. For them. For himself.
He gathered his few belongings, shoved them into a worn duffel bag, and walked out of his apartment for the last time.
As he left the building, he took one last look at the city he had lived in for so long. It had always been a place of escape, of fleeting distractions. But now, it felt like the beginning of something else. Something he wasn’t sure he was ready for.
Justin arrives in New York and sets out to find Lila, the daughter he hopes will offer him the chance for redemption.