When I was growing up，I didn't remember hearing the words"I love you"from my father．When your father （21）___ says these words to you when you are a（n） （22）___，it gets harder and harder for him to say these words as he gets （23）___．To tell the truth，I could not honestly remember （24）___ I had last said those words to him either．I decided to （25）___ my ego （自尊心） aside and make the first move．After （26）___，in our next phone conversation I blurted out（突然说出） the words，"Dad…I love you!"
There was a （27）___ at the other end and he awkwardly （笨拙地） replied，"Well，same back to you!"
I smiled and said，"Dad，I know you （28）___ me，and when you are ready，I know you（29）___ say what you want to say．"
Fifteen minutes later，my （30）___called and nervously asked，"Paul，（31）___ is okay？I explained to her perfectly．
A few weeks later，Dad （32）___ our phone conversation with the words，"Paul，I love you．"I was at work during this （33）___ and the tears were rolling down my cheeks as I finally"（34）___"the love．As I sat there in tears，I（35）___ that this special moment had taken our father-son （36）___ to a new level．
A short while after this （37）___ moment，my father narrowly （38）___ from the following heart operation．I have often thought （39）___ I did not take the first step and Dad did not
（40）___ the operation，I would have never"heard"the love．