For ten years my father had been fighting cancer. Now he was forced into the hospital because of an infection. I sensed he1 being there, but he hardly complained. That wasn't his2
One night after3 to call a nurse, he tried to reach the bathroom on his own and fell, getting his4 injured. When I saw his wounded head the next day, I felt my helpless anger5 .Why isn't anything I can do? I thought. As if6 my thoughts, when the lift I waited for opened, two dogs greeted me. I was7 that hospital rules should allow it.
A(n) 8 grew as I walked to my car. I9 that if I could give my dad nothing else, I was going to give him some10 with his beloved dog Boots. When dad was at home, Boots was always there, watching him protectively. When dad had to go to the hospital, Boots waited and jumped every time a car11 to the house. Later that day I came back for another12 , bringing Boots. Upon arrival, Boots flew out of the car and dragged me through the hospital lobby.13 , she knew to stop directly in front of the very lift.14 she had never been here before, when the lift door opened, she ran directly into the room. Ever so gently, she crawled into my father's open arms, not touching his 15 sides and laid her face next to his. For the first time in a long time, I saw my father's broad smile.
