My dad was a rock, someone I could talk to, and my hero. He always made time for me, even though he was very busy. I was broken when he died so suddenly, and I had doubts about my mom’s choice to cremate him without a wake.
I thought my parents were the best example of a happy marriage when I was a kid. But talking about divorce when I was 14 years old made me realise that problems can happen in any home. I didn’t know it at the time, but those words would come true.
After my dad died, my mum sent me a strange message that led me to a video that changed everything. My father, who was still living, told me a shocking truth: he had faked his own death to get away from his past.
The video message was a mix of happiness and shock. My dad told me he had to leave because of his troubled past, and my mum knew everything. I didn’t know whether to forgive or get angry.
I went up to my mum and demanded answers. She told my dad that he was already married to someone else. When she found out, she told him she would never let him see me again.
At the beach, the dust we kicked up was just that: dust. To keep me safe, my mum had kept the secret, but now I had to face the truth about my dad’s two lives.
The last few weeks, I spent time with my dad and heard his stories, apologies, and love for all of his kids. When he died, I felt a lot of different things.
It’s hard for me to forgive my mum for lying to me now. Was it to hide herself or to protect me? I’m still trying to find answers.
When I think about the past, I see that forgiving someone is a complicated and constant process. The lies my father told me and the secrets my mother kept from me hurt me, but I’m trying to get better.
The question still stands: which of my parents should I forgive? Time will tell.
