Katelyn’s POV

My father’s voice carried a weight I hadn’t heard before. He wasn’t angry, and he wasn’t sickly weak either. He was steady—too steady.

“I’ve decided,” he said. “I’m not taking treatment. Not anymore.”

The words hit me like ice water.

I shook my head quickly, desperate to stop them from landing. “No… no, you can’t just—”

He raised a hand, calm and firm. “Katelyn. Listen.” His gaze held mine, unflinching. “If I spend what time I have left in ...