"What can I say that will make you look at me like I'm your father again instead of some stranger you despise?"
"Nothing," Shuyin said simply.
"There's nothing you can say."
"Nothing you can do."
"Some things can't be fixed, Father."
"Some damage is permanent."
"The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can move on with your life."
"Move on?"
Long Tian's voice was barely a whisper now, thick with unshed tears.
"How am I supposed to move on when my daughter won't even tell me what I'm supposed to be atoning for?"
The youngest brother couldn't take it anymore.
He stepped around his father, his young face earnest and pleading.
"Sister, please."
"Whatever happened, whatever hurt you, we can help."
"We can make it right."
"Just let us in."
"Let us be your family again."
Shuyin finally looked at him, really looked at him, and for a moment her expression softened fractionally.
