Chapter 9 - The Secret My Son Finally DiscoveredYears later, Ethan found an old box in my office.
Inside was a photograph of his father.
He picked it up.
"Mom?"
I looked over.
"Yes?"
"Why did Dad leave?"
I sat down.
"I told you the truth."
"Was there more?"
I hesitated.
Then I handed him a letter.
His father's final letter.
It had been written shortly before his death.
Ethan read it.
"Eleanor, if Ethan ever asks why I left, tell him the truth."
"I was afraid."
"I thought I wasn't worthy of the life we had built."
"I believed leaving would make things easier."
"I was wrong."
Ethan's eyes filled with tears.
His father hadn't abandoned him because he didn't love him.
He had abandoned him because he was weak.
That didn't excuse it.
But it explained it.
Ethan folded the letter.
"Why didn't you show me this before?"
"Because you weren't ready."
He nodded.
"Do you forgive him?"
I smiled.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because forgiveness isn't permission."
He looked at me.
"It means I refuse to let his mistakes control the rest of my life."
Ethan hugged me.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Then he smiled.
"You're still terrifying."
May you like
I laughed.
"I know."
