When my father didn't have my hand . . . he had my back.

The line frames fatherly care as both guidance and protection. Holding a child’s hand suggests direct, visible support—leading them through danger or uncertainty. Having a child’s back implies a different mode of care: watchful presence, advocacy, and readiness to intervene even when the child is moving independently. The contrast captures a maturation arc: as children grow, parents cannot always guide step-by-step, but steadfast backing can remain. The ellipsis underscores a pause of emotion or recollection, hinting that the speaker is looking back on a relationship defined less by constant closeness than by dependable loyalty.