Emily had been counting the days for nearly eight months.<\/p>\n
Every morning before school, she crossed another number off the calendar hanging in her bedroom.<\/p>\n
Her father was a soldier stationed overseas, and today was finally the day he was supposed to come home.<\/p>\n
She woke up before sunrise, too excited to sleep.<\/p>\n
With markers and colored paper, she made a welcome sign that read:<\/p>\n
“Welcome Home, Dad!”<\/p>\n
Her mother drove her to the airport that afternoon.<\/p>\n
The terminal was crowded with travelers, families, and airport staff.<\/p>\n
Emily stood near the arrival gate clutching her sign tightly.<\/p>\n
Every time the doors opened, her heart raced.<\/p>\n
But each time, it was someone else.<\/p>\n
An elderly couple reunited.<\/p>\n
A businessman hugged his children.<\/p>\n
Friends laughed as they greeted one another.<\/p>\n
Minutes felt like hours.<\/p>\n
The crowd grew smaller.<\/p>\n
The arrival board changed.<\/p>\n
Still no sign of her father.<\/p>\n
Emily’s smile slowly faded.<\/p>\n
“What if something happened?” she whispered.<\/p>\n
Her mother tried to reassure her, but worry filled the little girl’s eyes.<\/p>\n
Eventually, she lowered her sign and stared at the floor.<\/p>\n
Maybe he had missed his flight.<\/p>\n
Maybe he wasn’t coming today.<\/p>\n
Then she heard a voice behind her.<\/p>\n
**”Miss me?”**<\/p>\n
Emily froze.<\/p>\n
She knew that voice.<\/p>\n
Slowly, she turned around.<\/p>\n
There he was.<\/p>\n
Wearing his military uniform.<\/p>\n
Standing only a few feet away.<\/p>\n
For a second she couldn’t move.<\/p>\n
Then she dropped the sign and sprinted toward him.<\/p>\n
Her father knelt down just in time to catch her as she leaped into his arms.<\/p>\n
Tears streamed down both of their faces.<\/p>\n
Around them, strangers stopped to watch.<\/p>\n
Some smiled.<\/p>\n
Others wiped away tears of their own.<\/p>\n
After months apart, father and daughter were finally together again.<\/p>\n
As they walked out of the airport hand in hand, Emily looked up and said,<\/p>\n
**”I knew you’d come back.”**<\/p>\n
Her father squeezed her hand and smiled.<\/p>\n
**”I promised, didn’t I?”** \u2764\ufe0f<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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