"CAN I BE YOUR SON?"

(A borrowed glimpse of a love not meant for me)

I was about to start eating when I noticed a group of men sitting in front of me. They were laughing, joking around, just enjoying each other’s company. From the way they acted, you could tell they’d been friends for many years already.

Then a group of teenage boys came in, wearing simple clothing, and rubber shoes, like they had just finished playing basketball or something. They walked up to the men, giving high-fives and greeting them like it was nothing. That’s when I realized that those men were their dads. They hugged, teased each other a bit, and I even heard one of the fathers remind his son not to let his sweat dry on his skin. It was such a simple moment, but it felt warm and real. A perfect example of what a father's love is.

After a while, I realized that my smile slowly faded as I started thinking about my experience of a father's love.

A love that I never really had.

A love that I never got to experience.

Something that almost feels imaginary and foreign to me.

I went out to get something nice to eat after having a rough day at work. Everything was okay, until I saw them.

Watching them made me realize how nice it must be to have someone like that. Someone you can talk to, message anytime, or someone you can go to when everything feels too much.

Like what a dad should be. A real father figure.

But unfortunately, I didn't have that.

As they continue to enjoy each other's company, a random thought came to me—

What if I just stood up, walked over to them, and asked:

“Can I be your son?”

#FathersLove #AbsentFather #HealingInnerChild #EmotionalWriting #SpokenWordPoetry #RealTalkStories #SilentStruggles #WhatItFeelsLike #UnsaidWords #PersonalReflections

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