A Father's Regret

Author's Pov

“Are you okay, Mr. Hayes?” Hazel asked softly.

He didn’t even flinch at the sound of her voice. He stood with his head leaning against the wall, shoulders slumped, eyes fixed on absolutely nothing. He looked like a man whose soul had left him behind, leaving only a grieving shell.

Hazel stepped closer. The hallway was quiet at this hour, just the distant hum of appliances and the tick