My mother was shocked. She had known something was wrong, but she’d never imagined this.
She sat down with him that evening and asked him about it. At first, he was defensive. He tried to change the subject. But she didn’t let him.
“Dad,” she said, “I found the box. I know about your therapist.”
He was silent for a long moment. Then, the tears came.
“I didn’t want you to know,” he said. “I didn’t want you to worry. I didn’t want you to see me as weak.”
“You’re not weak,” she said. “You’re the strongest person I know.”
