GABRIEL

"Pop, I'm back."

"Gabe, are you okay?" He looked me up and down as he came around from behind his desk, where he'd been sitting gazing off into space. His hug was meant more for someone coming back from war than a son who'd only been gone for a few days, less than a week, in fact.

He pulled back and clasped my shoulders while looking into my eyes. "I'm sorry…

"No, you're back, you're okay, that's all that matters. Are you going to tell ...