Pop just told me that my former brother-in-law passed away…
The man who was married to my youngest sister, and my niece’s father. He was a troubled man. My sister met him under what were not the most optimal circumstances, and becoming a couple was the last thing they should’ve done, even by the guidelines of their "community" (A.A. and he was her sponsor). He was also dealing with drug recovery.
I don’t blame him for her venturing into drug use—she chose both him and the circumstances. But fortunately, when she discovered she was pregnant, she moved back in with our parents and made the commitment to leave all substances alone during that time: alcohol, drugs and cigarettes. And to his credit, he didn’t interfere with that, though he continued to check in on her and their daughter, when she was born, beautiful and healthy.
He continued to backslide, and apparently being a husband and father wasn’t enough incentive to renew work on his recovery, so they divorced when my niece was still small.
I expressed my condolences and asked my sister how she was feeling. She said she wasn’t sure…
“You know ? It’s weird knowing someone you loved, someone you made another person with, is no longer on this earth ?”
I swallowed hard. "Yes, I do know. Pop does, too.”
She gasped. “You’re right…” 😔
I don’t blame him for her venturing into drug use—she chose both him and the circumstances. But fortunately, when she discovered she was pregnant, she moved back in with our parents and made the commitment to leave all substances alone during that time: alcohol, drugs and cigarettes. And to his credit, he didn’t interfere with that, though he continued to check in on her and their daughter, when she was born, beautiful and healthy.
He continued to backslide, and apparently being a husband and father wasn’t enough incentive to renew work on his recovery, so they divorced when my niece was still small.
I expressed my condolences and asked my sister how she was feeling. She said she wasn’t sure…
“You know ? It’s weird knowing someone you loved, someone you made another person with, is no longer on this earth ?”
I swallowed hard. "Yes, I do know. Pop does, too.”
She gasped. “You’re right…” 😔
