I stopped to help a woman who was dy//ing on the side of the road and lost my job because I arrived late

I could never ask her why.

Maybe she had been afraid.

Maybe she believed she was protecting me.

Maybe there were no perfect choices.

Only human ones.

I returned to the desk.

Then opened the letter.

The paper inside was covered in handwriting.

I began reading.

Christopher,

If you are reading this, then you are old enough to understand something I wasn’t brave enough to explain when you were small.

I did not leave because you were unwanted.

My eyes blurred.

I stopped.

Eleanor waited silently.

I continued.

I left because your mother found a man willing to become the father I had already failed to be.

There are different kinds of courage.

Sometimes courage means fighting for someone.

Sometimes it means staying.

And sometimes it means stepping away because your presence would create more pain than your absence.

I pressed one hand against my mouth.

I hope you grow into a man kinder than the men in my family.