I pulled him into a hug.

“I wasn’t alone every moment.

And I don’t want that picture to become your responsibility.

My job is to help you grow, not to ask you to repair my past.”

He leaned into me.

“I just don’t want you to be sad.”

“I’m not sad all the time, sweetheart.

I have a job I love, friends who care about me, and four wonderful boys who occasionally clean their rooms.”