At the very bottom of the box lay a white envelope holding the original closing statement from my home sale.

My phone screen lit up on the nightstand with a text message from David.

“I’m drafting an emergency legal petition tonight,” the message read.

“Once you sign the representation agreement tomorrow, I’ll file for an emergency financial freeze and protection order.

It will become a public matter in Franklin County court.”

I held the small phone in both hands, looking at the bright blue text on the screen.

Signing that paper meant ending forty-four years of protecting my son from his own mistakes.