Just three words from a man who had already spent nearly two years proving them through his actions…..

Instead, I walked back into the house and returned carrying a handmade wooden box.

That was when his smile began to disappear.

I hadn’t seen my biological father since I was three.

Growing up, it was mostly Mom and me. Money was always tight, even when we tried not to talk about it.

I learned to notice the signs.

When bills were late, Mom stopped buying little things for herself.

When I needed new shoes, we skipped other treats.

By thirteen, I had become good at not asking for anything unless I truly needed it.