Burden

As Alexander had predicted, William arrived early in the morning.

"What happened to you? Did you cry all night?" Father Rock asked as William joined them for breakfast.

"I did," William replied bluntly. "And it's because of you, Dad! How could you not tell me and Alexander about your brain tumor?"

Rain swallowed hard, caught off guard by William's directness. She knew he was straightforward, but hearing him blurt it out like that still shocked her. In that moment, William approached Father Rock and hugged him tightly, tears streaming down his face.

"How could you bear this all alone? You have two sons who care about you, and yet you wanted Uncle Ben to shoulder everything!" William's voice was choked with sobs.

Father Rock glanced at Alexander, and it was then that Rain noticed her husband's tears falling silently down his cheeks.