How do you mourn someone who never existed?
Was it their mask that deceived you—
or a face you painted with the pigmants of your longing?
Are you greaving the loss of a possibility,
or the quiet death of a belief—
a future that only ever lived in your mind?
This excerpt from “Kids Raising Kids” reflects on the powerful moment of realization that the parents we once saw as all-knowing were simply doing their best—just as we are now. It speaks to the universal experience of growing up, becoming a parent, and understanding the imperfect, yet deeply human effort behind raising children.
The narrative explores a child’s contemplations about love and safety, questioning whether she truly matters to her parents as much as they claim. Despite reassurances from her father, she expresses confusion and sadness over adult emotions and the complexity of relationships. The story concludes with a poignant metaphor about the rain’s struggle to cease, paralleling her own feelings.
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