Then, I couldn’t take it anymore. The remnants of my pain, sorrows, and worries came flooding through again.
I broke out into tears once more.
“Essie, it’s okay. It’s going to work out alright in the end, I promise,”
my father soothed, enveloping me in a big bear hug.
“How can you expect me to open up to you anymore if you won’t open up to me?”
I asked.

When he released me, I saw the face of a man who had been up many nights fighting countless battles with himself.
He took a deep breath and sighed. My dad’s face was tired and his eyes were red.
I realized he had been crying too.
“Essie,”
he said softly, putting his hand on my shoulder.
“Some things are complicated. Maybe someday, when you’re older, you’ll understand.”
I noticed the sad smile on his face.

For a moment, just a bit of a moment, really, I felt at rest and at peace.
But I knew it wouldn’t last.
I always knew it wouldn’t.