I spent thirty years believing you looked at ten children and decided freedom mattered more.

Now I know you were afraid we would be hurt because of you.

I wish you trusted us enough to come back when you could.

I wish you gave me the chance to be angry at you while you were alive.

I wish I could tell you I understand.

Then Marcus wrote:

I became a good father partly because I was terrified of becoming you.

He paused.