seeing your parents be affectionate

My mother was unfolding the sofa bed, it was late and my visiting grandparents had already retired to my parent’s room. My father was walking up the little staircase into the living room when it happened. This larger than life man, who would catch and hug me when I jumped off those three little stairs, slowly fell behind a recliner like a towel sliding off the rack. My mother rushed to him then left to call an ambulance. I wanted to go as well, to do something important, but he begged me to stay. We sat saying nothing, holding hands.