In My Own World

Father's Day has a way of making me think about all the things I never said. My father has been gone for years now, and every Father's Day, I find myself replaying memories that aren't really memories at all. They're mostly what-ifs. The truth is, I never greeted him a Happy Father's Day. Not once. I never greeted him a Happy Birthday either. It's not because we fought. It's not because he was a bad father. He wasn't. In fact, he did what many fathers do—he sacrificed. He worked as a seaman, spending most of his life at sea so our family could have a better life. The problem was that because he was gone most of the time, I got used to his absence. When he came home, his presence felt unfamiliar. He wasn't a stranger, but he wasn't someone I saw every day either. There was always this invisible distance between us, created by months and years spent apart. Looking back, taking him for granted would be an understatement. I simply assumed there would...

And then suddenly it hits you. There are people in your life who were never meant to stay forever. Not because anyone did anything wrong. Not because there was a fight. Not because someone stopped caring. Life just kept moving. Sometimes I find myself missing the bond I once had with certain people. I miss the inside jokes, the random conversations, the comfort of knowing that if something happened, they'd be one of the first people I'd tell. But when I really think about it, I realize I don't actually miss who they are today. I miss who we were back then. I see them now, happy with their own circle. They're building careers, raising children, creating lives that look completely different from mine. And I'm happy for them. I truly am. It's just strange sometimes. Because there was a time when we knew everything about each other. We knew each other's dreams, fears, favorite songs, and biggest frustrations. And now, if we sat down across from each other, I...