Working in the same hospital as my father had always been a quiet comfort. He had spent nearly thirty years there as a nurse, steady in his role, while I worked in social services supporting families through difficult decisions. Our schedules rarely matched, but when they did, we paused for a brief hug in the hallway. It was simple, familiar, and for years, unnoticed.
That changed one afternoon when a newly hired nurse passed by as we greeted each other.