I love my dad but I can't look at him long enough
I used to be a very stubborn kid, always insisting on my own ways—until my parents separated. I knew everything that was happening, but I tried to shield my siblings from the truth, keeping them from understanding our family situation. To me, it was already heavy enough, and I couldn't bear to see them feel what I felt during those times.
When my dad was away for work, my mom cheated on him. I knew everything but chose to stay silent because she would always say, *"I'll stop, just keep your mouth shut to your dad."* I didn’t want to grow up in a broken family, so I kept to myself what I had seen while I was with her.
I never imagined things would turn out this badly. I never wanted this to happen—I truly believed my mom could fix everything on her own, but she didn’t. My family on my dad’s side kept checking in, asking if I was okay, and what was really going on. Deep down, I knew I wasn’t doing well, but I always told them the same thing: *I don’t want my siblings to grow up with separated parents.*
For almost four years, the situation deeply affected my dad. But now that my mom is away working, I’ve chosen to live with him. However, I see how much he has changed—he has become atheist and narcissistic, and I feel guilty, wondering if I could’ve done something to prevent all this.
I feel terrible for my dad, but there’s nothing I can do. He says we should just live with him to make him feel better, but his personality and the way he acts now make me distance myself from him. I don’t even give him hugs or kisses anymore, and while I feel guilty about it, I also want to feel better myself.
I just hope my dad heals with me. I hope he forgives my mom. More than anything, I hope he forgives himself too.