And after enough years, I started answering questions nobody should have asked me.

Maybe I should have.

Maybe I missed something.

Maybe I failed Connor.

Logically, I knew better.

Emotionally, guilt is not logical.

And when the person you love repeats the same accusation long enough, sometimes the accusation becomes part of the furniture.

You stop noticing how ugly it is.

PART 2 — THE JOKES

As Connor grew older, Patrick learned to hide resentment inside humor.