I once loved a man
Who was raised by an absent father
And he was beautiful
The kind of beautiful you only notice
When you can see through a person’s facade
His heart carried deep wounds
Caused by his superhero
I could see it bleeding underneath his macho act
He was just a little boy still grieving his dad
Still navigating life without a compass
Choosing stoicism over vulnerability
And so when my love showed up demanding reciprocity
He fought it
Letting me in was way too risky
So instead he built impeccable walls
Guarded. Avoidant. Always halfway gone.
I still think about him sometimes
I wonder if he’s still carrying everything alone
I hope he isn’t still numbing his pain with vices
I hope his fears don't continue to prioritize solitude
I hope he learns to unlearn and relearn
And finally, I hope he can forgive his dad
And end the cycle of absent fathers.
Sarah Kenyi © 2025
