Bad news I delivered

I was talking with my friend, just me and her at her place. We were both 15 at the time. She asked me why parents can be mean and confessed that her dad just didn't care about her. It was the first time I had heard it from her mouth but I had a suspicion there were some issues. So... I told her my thoughts. I still remember the way I put it over a decade later. I said...


"There is no rule or law in this world that says a parent must love their child, or even be caring." I said those words blankly as a matter of fact as I had never been more certain about something in my life. I remember silence. A long silence, until I realized she had been crying while her hair hid her face. I had never seen her do that before in 4 years. I don't remember if I held her, I don't think I did. I don't know if I said "That is how I feel about my own parents." I think she may have guessed later on.

It's one of a series of bad memories, but one I hope armed her to deal with her situation, just as I had to figure that out on my own.