After all of this time, I still remember the day he left. April 6, 2006. This day brought a time of darkness in my life.
I’d sit in isolation. I’d separate myself from the kids around me, the “normal” kids, because they didn’t have to go through what I was going through.

They wouldn’t understand that my family had to make up for the lost space. We had to take on the responsibilities that a father normally would. They wouldn’t understand that I no longer had time to play tag or climb a jungle gym.
I had to grow up at the age of 8.

As a third grader, what I didn’t realize was that his leaving brought light.
My mom has been both a mother and a father; she’s held her own and carried the weight of three children. It’s astonishing to see how far she’s pushed herself because of her children. We were her motivation.

Not having another parent around the house forced me to grow up faster than most children, but it also gave me a deeper insight. I now know what kind of guy to look out for.

When I was 10 years old I was doing chores, making dinner, and tucking my little brother into bed while my mom worked rigorous hours trying to make ends meet. It was stressful, but we managed.

With all of the commotion that was going on in such a short span of time my brothers and I definitely became a lot closer. We became a unit, a team. My older brother, even without the sight of a father figure, still acted as our protector. It’s like he already knew what he was supposed to do.

I’m no longer the kid who avoided the jungle gym.

After much talking, personal reflection and finding my salvation, I have realized that holding onto my past isn’t good. It isn’t good for anyone. It’s okay to be angry, it’s okay to be sad, but it’s also okay to get over it.
The thought of another man entering my life was totally out of the question at the time. I was happy with the little family I had but I had to realize that it was selfish. Just as I had moved on, so had my mother. She started going to the gym, playing with us, and being more associated with friends. Eventually, she came across a man who was willing to take in a single mom with three kids. That came as a shock to me, so I felt cautious about him.

My family may not be conventional, but we are happy. That’s all that matters. I’ve come a long way since my dad left, placing myself in honors classes, taking on sports, and having a new outlook on life.

Though at the time I wasn’t able to realize it, I am grateful that I got this experience to grow. I am prepared to excel in sports. I am prepared to excel in my AP classes next year. I am prepared to excel in making important decisions in life. I am ready to conquer any darkness that may come my way now because of the things I have been through.