My Parents Died Before Graduation and I Thought No One Would Be There for Me — Then Two Hands Covered My Eyes From Behind

“I should have called, Leo.

After.

I picked up the phone about a hundred times and I — I didn’t know what to say to you.

There’s no version of ‘I’m sorry’ that’s big enough, and every time I tried, it came out so small it seemed an insult, so I just… didn’t.

And that was wrong.

That was the coward’s way, and I know it, and I’m not going to do it anymore.” He glanced over at me.

“I left you alone in the worst of it.