In June this year, the bougainvillea bloomed again. Looking at the bright bougainvillea on the branches, memories of my father’s face remain vivid.

Most fathers always wake up early in the morning to prepare breakfast for their children and take them to school.

But my father was the opposite, he was always late.

Since I was in kindergarten, my father has always been late. When I was ready to go to school, I would wait at the door for him to take me.

Sometimes when I waited and he didn’t come, I would run to his room. I would find him snoring or with tired eyes, picking up his clothes to go out with me.

There were times when he didn’t come to send me, so I went to school alone. Eventually, I got used to doing many things alone.

I accepted this as normal, but sometimes I envied other children who were pampered by their fathers.

Habit couldn’t change my longing for fatherly love. Sometimes, due to too much disappointment, I chose not to demand anything anymore.

This habit of my father’s continued until I graduated from junior high school.

That year, when the bougainvillea bloomed, the willow tree budded, butterflies flew in the sky, and dandelions swayed in the wind.

Everything was so beautiful, but I was facing the high school entrance exam, a turning point in my life.

My father had always been laid-back about my education, so he never pressured me to get into a good high school.

Of course, his laid-back parenting taught me self-reliance, so when I took the high school entrance exam, I was determined to do well.

When the results came out, communication wasn’t as advanced as it is now, so I couldn’t confirm if I was accepted.

One morning, I woke up and found that my father was not at home.

Opening his room, I was surprised to see it empty. My father never got up before 8 a.m., but that day he was gone by 6 a.m.

When I asked my mother about his whereabouts, she hadn’t seen him either.

Later, I found out that he had gone from the village to the county town to check my results.

My father had never shown such care before, and it surprised me. When he came back that night, he smiled at me and said, “You got into the top class at Zhongyi High School.”

I had never seen my father so gentle and happy before.

That evening, my father, who didn’t like drinking, sat under the apple tree and had a drink with us.

He woke up early to take me to high school, washed the car, and was ready to send me to study in the city.

When he dropped me off at the school gate, he hadn’t even eaten, he bought a bottle of mineral water for a dollar and went back home.

Watching him leave, I suddenly shed tears. A father’s love is deep and profound.

In my memory, my father was always serious, but I never expected him to be so caring at times.

Father was vague about small things, but he cared a lot about big things concerning me.

After high school and college, every time I went to a new school, it was always during the bougainvillea blooming season.

I spent my college years in a city in the South, where the cost of living was high. However, my father always provided me with money so I could focus on my studies without financial worries.

Once, seeing my father happy, I asked why he was often late during my childhood.

He lowered his head and remained silent for a long time when I asked him.

Later, a friend of my father told me that he used to work late every night to save money. He saved money to send me to college, hence the early mornings were a struggle.

I had only seen the surface as a child and thought my father was indifferent to me because he was often late.

Years later, I learned the truth and realized how deep my father’s love was. Perhaps there are many fathers in the world, like mine, silently carrying burdens.

In today’s society, many people face immense pressure, especially fathers.

Many children want their fathers to accompany them and spend weekends together.

But children often fail to realize that fathers have to provide for the family. They may see other fathers treating their children well and feel a gap in their hearts, even resenting their own fathers at times.

Some fathers work outside for years, causing them to feel distant from their children when they come home during festivals.

Children may feel estranged from their fathers, not understanding the heavy responsibilities on their shoulders.

Recently, a friend told me, “After my husband was on a business trip for a year, the child didn’t recognize him when he came back.”

Many believe fathers and children are distant, but fathers also have their struggles.

A person has only two hands. If they go to work, those hands can’t hold their children. So, we should be more understanding and grateful to fathers in life.

Maybe one day when you become a parent, you will understand your father’s struggles.

Life is full of uncertainties. Learn to cherish the people around you. Keep moving forward and improving, but don’t forget your parents.

“Parents will never travel far away.”

Take the time to be with your parents and live without regrets.

Finally, I wish all fathers in the world happiness! I hope every child can understand their father.

When the bougainvillea blooms, hold your father’s hand and go see it together, understanding him with your own perspective and welcoming his smiling eyes.