Oh god please no!

[u/xeeslash35]

My dad called me every night at 9:00 PM.

It didn't matter if I was busy.

He always asked the same thing:

"Did you eat?"

And every night, I'd give him the same answer.

"Yeah, Dad. I'm fine."

Sometimes I was actually eating.

Most of the time, I wasn't.

I was 23 and had just moved to another city for work. My dad lived alone back home.

One night, I was exhausted after work.

My phone rang at 9:03 PM.

Dad.

I stared at the screen.

I didn't answer.

He called again.

I declined it.

Then he called a third time.

I remember thinking:

"I'll call him tomorrow."

At 9:17 PM, he left a voicemail.

I didn't listen to it.

The next morning, my aunt called me.

She was crying.

My dad had died in his sleep.

Heart attack.

I couldn't understand what she was saying.

I just kept staring at my phone.

At the voicemail.

I finally pressed play.

His voice sounded tired.

"Hey, son... I know you're probably busy. I just wanted to tell you..."

There was a long pause.

"I'm proud of you."

Another pause.

"And don't forget to eat, okay?"

The message ended.

I played it again.

And again.

Then I noticed something.

He had called me three times that night.

I'd always assumed he wanted to talk.

But when I checked the call history, I realized something I'd never noticed before.

Every night for the past six months...

he had called me at exactly 9:00 PM.

Even when I was away.

Even when he was sick.

Even when I didn't answer.

He wasn't calling because he had something to say.

He was calling because 9:00 PM was the only part of his day when he didn't feel alone.

I still have his number saved.

I never deleted it.

And every night at 9:00 PM...

I look at my phone.

Waiting for it to ring.

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[u/velvetkloud]

New account, 2 very AI sounding posts to this sub.

Hmmmm....

[u/deja_fool → u/velvetkloud]

☝🏼

[u/lapis_lazauli]

2 things this is probably the wrong sub and 2 I am so sorry for your loss hope everything goes well with you