Mr. Geller and I had met at a book reading earlier that week and yesterday we were sitting in his peaceful house. It was his birthday but the celebration felt quieter than I expected. As we ate a banana split, he suddenly grew tense.
“You know, Bob,” he said slowly, “my son and I haven’t spoken in months. He did not wish me. The last time he was with me, we argued. I just wanted him to be safe, to find stability—but he didn’t take it well. He said he’d figure it out on his own. He walked out angry, and that was it. We haven’t spoken since.”
His voice cracked slightly. “I can’t seem to forgive him for the way he dismissed me and maybe he can’t forgive me either. It eats at me every day. He’s my son. Why does it feel so hard to let go?”
“Mr. Gellar,” I said gently, “forgiveness doesn’t mean you agree with what happened. It doesn’t even mean the argument disappears. Forgiveness is simply choosing not to let anger be the wall that keeps you apart. Right now, it isn’t about who was right or wrong—it’s about what matters more: the relationship or the pride.”
“I just wanted him to listen,” he whispered.
“Maybe someday, he will,” I said. “The truth is, children need space to make their own choices. They don’t always want answers—they want room to stumble, to learn, to grow. You were trying to love him in your way. He was trying to breathe in his. That doesn’t mean the love between you is gone. It just means it needs healing.”
He let out a long breath, shoulders easing just a little. “So you’re saying the first step is mine.”
I nodded. “Forgiveness always is. Not for him but for you. So that the silence doesn’t eat away at the years you still have together.”
Mr. Geller gave a soft smile, one that was both sad and hopeful. “Thank you, Bob. Maybe I needed to hear that today more than ever.”
To you, dear reader—if you’re holding on to anger against someone you love, ask yourself this: is the weight of being right worth more than the gift of having them in your life? Sometimes the apology never comes, but forgiveness can still set you free.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Reach out. Let go—not because they deserve it but because you deserve peace.
