“You can miss him.

You can be angry or confused.

You don’t have to choose a feeling that makes me feel better.”

Mark had been Ethan’s father before he became the man I could no longer trust around this truth.

My son’s memories did not become false because I was furious.

I would not ask Ethan to erase them as a demonstration of loyalty to me.

I would also not use them to minimize what happened.