The sun was blazing hot over the farm that afternoon, making the air feel heavy and dry. Everyone stayed inside the house to avoid the scorching heat, especially little Lily, who had been feeling sick since the morning. Mom had wrapped her in a soft blanket and told her to rest in bed until she felt better.
But Lily could not stop thinking about Dad.
Earlier that day, Dad had gone to work in the far garden to repair the fence near the vegetable field. Usually, he returned home before lunchtime, but today he was taking much longer than usual. As the hours passed, Lily began to worry more and more.
“Where’s Dad…?” she whispered softly while staring out the window.
Mom gently touched Lily’s forehead and sighed. “Dad is busy working, sweetheart. You need to stay inside and rest.”
Lily nodded at first, but deep down she missed Dad terribly. Even though her body felt weak and tired, she quietly climbed out of bed when Mom was busy in the kitchen. Step by step, the little monkey walked outside into the burning sunlight.
The ground was hot beneath her tiny feet, and the bright sun made her squint her eyes. Lily held onto the fence carefully as she wandered down the dusty path leading toward the garden. Her small body looked exhausted, but she kept going because she wanted to find Dad.
Along the way, Lily wiped sweat from her forehead and coughed softly. The heat made her dizzy, yet she refused to turn back. She kept whispering, “Dad… Dad…”
Meanwhile, Dad was still fixing the broken fence when he suddenly noticed a tiny figure walking slowly toward him. His eyes widened in shock when he realized it was Lily.
“Lily?!” Dad shouted, quickly running toward her.
Before Lily could say anything, she stumbled weakly into Dad’s arms. Dad immediately carried her under the shade of a tree and gave her cool water. His heart hurt seeing how tired and overheated she looked.
“Why did you come all the way here when you’re sick?” Dad asked gently.
Lily hugged him tightly and whispered, “I missed you…”
Dad smiled sadly and kissed her forehead. He carried Lily home carefully while promising never to stay away too long again. Even though the day had been frightening, it showed just how deeply little Lily loved her father.
