My own therapy started a month later.

I had spent years blaming myself for David’s death even though intellectually I knew I had not caused a roof collapse.

Then I poured myself into Walter partly because caring for him felt like continuing to care for David.

That wasn’t inherently wrong.

But somewhere along the way, Lisa experienced every ounce of attention I gave Walter as proof that David still ranked above her.

Her interpretation did not make my caregiving wrong.