A heartless father leaves his crying son behind to begin a new life with his new love. Little does he know karma will bring him back to his son years later in dire straits.
Ron Henson had the sweetest home, or so the little boy believed. His mommy and daddy never fought, they celebrated little moments and achievements together, and his elder brother adored him.
So it was natural for Ron’s heart to wonder why one day, his mommy started sleeping in the guest bedroom. His daddy had also started returning late from work, and they no longer watched movies together on Friday nights.
Worried, he woke up his elder brother Peter one night to discuss it.
“Are mommy and daddy ok, Peter?” he asked. “I heard Daddy say he is meeting a lawyer…and, and…mommy wants custody! What does that mean?”
“Dude!” Peter grumbled, not wanting to wake up. “Can we discuss this tomorrow? It’s normal for so many families! They’re getting a divorce!”
“A what?” asked Ron, worried. “Are they going to live in different homes? Can we no longer eat pizza together?”
“Hey, hey, Ron, calm down, ok? Mom’s gonna get our custody coz dad doesn’t want it anyway! They were waiting to tell you once things were finalized…Dad cheated on mom, Ron! He was having an affair! He hurt mom!”
“But Daddy loves mommy, and he loves us!” said the little boy in tears.
“Hey, it’s alright, ok. Mom and I are here for you.”
Peter hugged Ron and consoled him. He did what any older, loving brother would. But Ron’s heart was not at peace. He couldn’t believe his superhero, his daddy, had done such a thing.
Ron decided to save his family. He knew his daddy would never leave his mommy if he cried and begged him not to. Whenever his father saw him sad, he would get him what he wanted. Ron knew that would work this time too. His little heart was confident about it.
So one morning, when his mother, Sharon, called him and told him the truth, Ron was calm, a plan ready at the back of his mind.
“He’s leaving tonight, honey,” Sharon said, her voice breaking. “But I’m here, Ron, and I’ll always be here for you and Peter, ok?”
Revisiting the painful past only adds to the agony and grief.
Ron nodded and didn’t say anything, though he suddenly wanted to cry. He swallowed his tears and pretended to be strong.
But when he saw his daddy walking out the front door with his bags, he ran to him, hugged his feet, and began to cry.
“Daddy! Please, don’t leave! Look, I’m sad! I’m just so sad! You’re not leaving, right?” he sobbed.
“Ron, dear,” his father, Darren, said quietly. “My taxi’s waiting. I need to go.”
“But why, Daddy? This is your house, too!” screamed the boy in tears. “You love me, and I love you. Please don’t go, daddy! Please!”
Ron’s tears didn’t move Darren. The older man waited until Peter pulled Ron out of the way, then turned around and walked out. No sorry. No goodbye. No “I love you.” Nothing.
After Darren left, the family struggled a lot. Sharon didn’t have a job then, and the divorce had already drained her savings. She began washing dishes at a diner to raise her boys and vowed to give so much love to them that they’d never miss their father.
But one day years later, while cleaning Ron’s room, Sharon peered into his computer, which had been left on, and froze. She found out Ron was looking for Darren. Why? Why did he do that? That night, she sat him down and confronted him.
“He never conta