The words hit me so hard that I forgot how to breathe for a second.
“I’ve been doing this for two years now.”
“During one of his treatments, Owen told me the hardest part wasn’t the pain. He said it was seeing the other kids there looking scared and trying not to cry in front of their parents. He said he wished somebody would just make them smile for one hour.” Charlie looked toward the ward. “So I started coming here after work. Dressed up. Brought presents. I never told Owen. I wanted it to be for him, not because of him.”
I glanced at the letter. “Apparently he found out anyway. And you hid this from me too.”
“I know.” Charlie’s voice shook. “Everything about those two years felt like one long attempt to keep us both from falling apart. Then, after the lake incident, I didn’t know how to tell you anything that wouldn’t sound insane or too late.”
