Strange reactivation of old responsibilities

My daughter just informed me that her father, my ex, fell and crushed a vertebrae. She says he’s in serious pain and the meds aren’t working, and they don’t think surgery is required but they have an appointment tomorrow with a surgeon to make sure he doesn’t need surgery.

I feel this intense pressure that I should be taking care of him. We’ve been divorced for more than a quarter-century and have rarely even spoken to each other.

Old habits die hard.