Emily sat at the kitchen table, flipping through a particularly old photo album she had found tucked away in one of the living room drawers. Both she and Danny enjoyed looking at old pictures—Emily for the sake of memories, Danny to understand this family he had found himself embedded in. Flipping through the somewhat faded photographs, they quietly tried to understand and absorb every detail of the stories these pictures told - together, on instinct.

  Today, something caught her attention—something she hadn’t noticed before.

  One page was a picture of her father, Thomas, as a much younger man, grinning widely with two unfamiliar individuals—a man and a woman who bore a striking resemblance to him. The man had the same jawline and brown hair, albeit slightly graying at the temples - looking quite similar to her present day father. The woman on the other hand appeared to share Thomas’s warm brown eyes and soft smile. They appeared relaxed, smiling, at peace with the world on what appeared to be a park on a sunny day.

  She frowned at the photo, trying to place the memory. “Why do they look so familiar, Danny?” she murmured under her breath. She felt a strange sense of connection to the two unfamiliar faces, even though she couldn’t recall ever meeting them.

  “Why are you asking me, Shrimp? I may know a lot, but I’m not exactly an encyclopedia,” Daniel replied sarcastically.

  However before Emily could retort, Daniel’s tone shifted. “They do look a lot like da - I mean your Dad, though, don’t they?” Daniel muttered, quickly self correcting. “Are they siblings? Cousins? Someone else?”

  Emily’s curiosity piqued further as she hummed to herself. “Dad?” she called out, turning the album page toward him as he sat nearby, engrossed in a newspaper. “Who are these people with you? I don’t remember seeing them before…”

  Thomas looked up casually at first, his expression neutral, but as soon as his eyes fell on the photograph, his entire demeanor changed. His posture stiffened, and the hand holding the newspaper trembled ever so slightly for just one moment.

  His normally soft, kind eyes hardened, narrowing in an expression radiating hurt, pain, and something else. Longing? Emily couldn’t make out but she did recognize familiar lines of stress form around her father’s eyes. The picture had unlocked something buried deep within him.

  For what felt like an eternity, the room went silent - yet heavy with unspoken emotions. Thomas finally spoke, his voice quiet, strained.

  “They’re... my parents,” he said softly, the words simple but carrying a heaviness that instantly cast weight on the room. His gaze lingered on the photo, and then he added, swallowing - “Your other grandparents.”

  The revelation hung in the air - surprise intermingled with confusion.

  Emily froze, her mind racing as she processed the information. Her other grandparents? She had never met these people— she was certain that she had never even heard about them.

  Sensing her thoughts, Daniel quietly interjected. “You’re right, I don’t remember Thomas ever mentioning his parents, now that I think about it too.”

  Emily paused and echoed the realization in their shared mindspace. “I’ve known Mom’s parents—Grandpa Ken and Grandma Joan—for a while, but yeah, you’re right, Danny. Dad’s never talked about his parents before.”

  Emily turned her attention back to her father. Thomas’s tension was visible, and Emily could now feel grief radiating from him.

  A lot of grief.

  “Be careful, Shrimp,” Danny cautioned, his tone now serious, clearly on alert. “Tread lightly—I’m getting bad vibes here. There’s hurt and pain- I can feel it.”

  Emily looked back at her father, his eyes still locked on the photograph. The man in the picture was grinning, carefree, standing beside two people who should have been part of their lives but weren’t. Whatever had caused this separation between Thomas and his parents, it had left a deep scar.

  Regardless of what Daniel said or felt, Emily felt compelled to know more.

  Taking a deep breath, she steeled her heart and asked - “Why haven’t I met them yet?” - keeping her voice as gentle as she could in that moment.

  Thomas shifted uneasily in his seat, avoiding eye contact, his body language now unsure. Emily watched him run a hand through his hair, his eyes darting between the photo and the table, as if searching for a way to escape.

  “There was some bad blood,” he said carefully, his voice tight. “When your mom and I decided to get married, my parents didn’t approve. Things were said, cruel things, and we haven’t spoken since. It’s as simple as that.”

  Emily stared at him, her heart thudding in her chest. She could see the muscles in his jaw clenching as he avoided her gaze. There was something about the way he held himself—tense, and defensive—that confirmed this was a falling out of epic proportions.

  Emily realized she had perhaps assumed, at some point, that her dad’s parents had already passed away but to learn that they were alive—and estranged—sent a shock through her.

  “I have a whole other set of grandparents? Dad’s parents?” she thought to herself, her inner voice almost reverent.

  “Yes - you do, and have for a while” Daniel replied softly. “This falling out, it must have happened before you were born.” He paused and reluctantly added “It must have been at least ten years, a decade at minimum”

  “Ten years!” Emily accidentally gasped out loud “You’ve not spoken to them in ten years, dad..”

  The comment was not meant to be accusatory - it was supposed to exhibit the surprise that Emily felt. Nevertheless, Thomas’s eyes darted again as if he had been struck. He nodded, his fingers now gripping the edges of the newspaper, his knuckles nearly white.

  “Yes. It’s been a long time.” His voice wavered, and Emily could see how tightly he was holding himself together. “A very long time…” he added, his voice barely above a whisper, each word threatening to reopen wounds that had perhaps not quite healed over time.

  From across the room, Sarah had been watching quietly, her eyes filled with concern. As she saw her husband on the verge of breaking, she crossed the room and gently wrapped her arms around him from behind. Emily watched as Sarah pressed a soft kiss on his cheek, whispering reassurances that Emily couldn’t quite catch.

  Thomas’s reaction was immediate—his eyes squeezed shut, and for a moment, it seemed like he was struggling to keep his composure. Emily’s breath caught in her throat, watching the subtle tremor in his hands and shoulders as he held the newspaper. Her father had been her rock, her anchor, the stalwart warrior who had held the family together for so long.

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  Seeing him like this, so vulnerable, and it made her heart ache.

  Emily looked down at the photograph again, her mind spinning. She hadn’t expected this—a fractured family history that had never been mentioned, a traumatized side to her father she would never have expected.

  “What happened, Mom? Dad?” Emily asked again, her voice softer this time perhaps wondering if hoping there might still be a chance that time could heal the wounds of the past. Sarah glanced at Thomas, as if seeking his permission to continue. Thomas however wasn’t entirely present—he seemed lost in his own thoughts, staring past the photo album with a distant look.

  Finally, Sarah who broke the silence “Your dad- umm, he came from a wealthier background than my family. His parents, well, they thought I was marrying him for his money.” Her voice tightened, and pain evident in her eyes too.

  “Perhaps, they didn’t think I was a good fit for their family.”

  She glanced away, her own jaw now tense. “Words were exchanged—cruel words. They told your dad it was either them or me.”

  Emily felt a rush of anger building inside her—a momentary rage she didn’t think she could possess. Her fists clenched, and she gritted her teeth as her mother’s words struck her.

  “It’s okay, Em,” Daniel whispered soothingly, his voice trying to cut through the storm of emotions swirling inside her. “Just breathe, it’s okay, Shrimp.”

  She took a shaky breath, her pulse gradually slowing as she felt gentle, pulsing waves of comfort from within—Daniel’s way of trying to hug her.

  “I hate admitting this,” Daniel sighed, frustration seeping through his words, “but this tale - it’s an old one. I’ve seen it play out in my own universe more times than I can count.”

  “Yeah, but this is our parents, Danny,” Emily muttered quietly, not wanting to be overheard.

  “I know, Shrimp. Believe me, I’m pissed too,” Daniel replied, his voice tinged with exasperation. “But look at them.”

  Emily glanced up at her parents, really seeing them now. Thomas’s face was etched with pain, Sarah equally hurt, both of them vulnerable, grieving the past that had fractured their family.

  “What Thomas’s parents said, it was wrong,” Daniel growled softly. “Maybe they thought they were protecting him, but let’s be real—it was a d*ck move, a proper d*ck move.”

  Even in the midst of her emotions, Emily had to suppress a small snort at Daniel’s stereotypically blunt phrasing.

  “That being said,” Daniel continued, his tone shifting to something more reflective, “it’s been over a decade. Over ten freaking years. I’ve seen how this works—time can heal, but it needs someone to make the first move. And you’ve got to believe that somewhere, deep down, even they might want to reconcile.”

  His voice softened, a deeper sadness creeping in.

  “Look at Thomas. He needs this. Somewhere inside him, there’s still a little boy who wants his parents back, who needs that closure.”

  Daniel paused - letting the words sink in before hesitatingly continuing. “Em...” his voice was softer now, and Emily could feel the wave of regret washing over him. “I alienated people in my world. Yeah, my pain made me push others away, but maybe if I had just picked up the phone instead of worrying about what I’d say or how much time had passed, I could have salvaged some of those relationships.”

  Emily felt Daniel’s gentle nudge.

  “I think we can at least help salvage this one, right?” His nudge became a hair more persistent. “But it is your choice - if you are ready to take the first step.”

  Emily considered his words, the experience and wisdom her unusual brother had shared. She steeled herself, took a breath and nodded. “OK, let’s do this - you with me Danny?” she asked quietly. “Always, Shrimp” came a reply as she felt her brother’s consciousness merge just a little more deeply.

  —

  Emily hesitated before speaking again, unsure whether to push further, but the question weighed too heavily on her mind to leave it unasked.

  “Mom, Dad - have you tried to talk to them? Just a phone call maybe?”

  The room was silent again, the only sound the ticking of a clock somewhere far in the recesses of the house, each tick a drumbeat emphasizing the lost time.

  It was Sarah who broke the silence again, stepping in when it became clear that Thomas couldn’t at that moment.

  “Hon, we’ve wanted to reach out for years,” she said softly, her voice sad yet full of empathy. “But honestly, we didn’t know where to start.”

  She let out a small sigh, her hand caressing Thomas’s shoulder.

  “It’s hard, Emily. So much time has passed, and when things are left unresolved for so long it’s not as simple as just picking up the phone.”

  “Not as simple as picking up the phone” - those words were almost fight words to Emily for reasons neither she nor Daniel understood.

  She took a deep breath, closing her eyes to center the maelstrom of emotions within her. So much time lost due to fear ? Stubbornness? More?

  Emily opened her eyes and pressed on, her voice more urgent now - directed to her father.

  She took a deep breath, and held up her hand. “Mom, Dad - I have a stubborn, opinionated big brother living in my head who regrets not saying goodbye, not reaching out to those he loved.”

  Thomas and Sarah glanced her way, exhaustion, hurt, pain - all playing on their face at once. “And you know, he taught me something - sometimes it is that simple…”

  Thomas looked up, his eyes widening, his lips thin in irritation and perhaps - guilt?

  Emily knelt beside him and gently took one of his hands in her own - just like her own mother did sometimes.

  “Dad before you say anything, hear me out. I know you’re scared. Danny says that the little boy inside—still wants their approval. And you know what, you’ve got a wife and a daughter who love you no matter what and who will support you if they hurt you again.”

  She continued kneeling, holding her father’s hand as he still looked away. “You have a chance now, to see if they’ve changed, to see if time has healed things. Why not take it?”

  Thomas turned around, his eyes glassy. “It’s not that easy, Em. You don’t understand. It’s been years. We’ve all moved on.”

  Emily shook her head, a flash of determination crossing her face.

  “No, Dad, that’s exactly why it’s simple. So many years have passed, and that’s why you need to try. What’s the point of holding on to anger? Life is fragile. I almost died. What happens if something happens to you or to them, and you never even tried to make things right?”

  Thomas looked at Emily, startled by the intensity of her words. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Sarah, still beside him, squeezed his hand in support but said nothing.

  “Em, I don’t want to get hurt again,” he admitted, his voice cracking slightly.

  Emily paused, feeling the depth of his fear. Then, in a quieter, more reflective tone, she asked, “I know Dad, but please - you gotta take a chance.. I mean, what if you and I had a fight, and we never spoke again? What if we didn’t give each other a chance to fix it?”

  She paused, looking away murmuring “Wouldn’t you regret that? Wouldn’t some part of you want to reach out? Well, why not give your own parents that chance?”

  The silence that followed was heavy, filled with the weight of possibilities. Thomas looked away, his brow furrowed, his confusion deepening.

  Emily pressed on, her voice gentle but firm.

  “Please, Dad. You’ve taught me so much about love and family. About supporting and being there for each other” she said sagely. Her expression turned playful momentarily as she added “Even with this crazy brother in my head,” tapping her temple.

  “So give it a chance, you’re your parent’s little boy too right? I’m sure they would want to hear from their only son…”

  Her eyes twinkling, she added “And honestly, I’d like to get to know my other grandparents, too!”

  The room was quiet once again - the ticking of the clock momentarily overshadowed by the sound of leaves rustling in the yard, perhaps symbolizing a changing of guard? Emily bit her lip, gazing at her father - hopefully, praying that he would consider the weight of her words.

  “Good show Emily” Daniel murmured softly “You did your best, now, it is up to him.”

  Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Thomas nodded slowly, the weight of the decision evidently pressing down on him. “Alright,” he said quietly. “I’ll… I’ll try.”