I don't know if that last part was necessary, but it was almost like I wanted to give him some kind of assurance.
I gazed into his worried eyes, and then he closed his eyes, nodding his head.
"I will never interfere in your decisions from now on. And... I am so—"
"Save it." I interrupted him. "Hearing you apologize right now will only burden me, instead of relieving me. Because at the end of the day, I just might get disappointed and your apology right now will amount to nothing. I don't want to be hurt anymore, Father." I turned my head away, looking down sadly. "And I absolutely don't want to have any expectations, so just do me a favor and pretend I don't exist in the remaining days I am in the tribe."
My father pursed his lips and then gritted his teeth. But he quietly let go, sighing softly as he asked,
"When do you plan to leave?"
"I don't know," I said while shaking my head. "But I won't leave without a trace, don't worry."
