I heard my daughter whisper into the phone, “I miss you, Dad” – I buried her father 18 years ago

I leaned my hand against the wall to steady myself. Susie turned, saw me, and hung up so quickly that the phone fell back onto its cradle.

“Who were you talking to?” I asked cautiously.

She wouldn’t meet my eyes.

“Wrong number,” she said, then ran upstairs.

18-year-old girl climbing stairs | Source: Midjourney
18-year-old girl climbing stairs | Source: Midjourney

I stood there for a long time, my heart pounding, my mind racing.

Wrong number? No.