I never had a good relationship with my dad. Growing up, it seemed like nothing I did or said was ever good enough for him. He was always hard on me and I tried my best to make him proud, but I was never successful.

No matter how hard I tried, I always failed in his eyes and he made sure I knew it. He was distant, cold, and unsupportive. I felt like I had no one to turn to and I was lost and alone.

Hugged and cried together when dad apologised

I had grown so used to his disapproval and criticism that when he finally apologized and expressed how much he loved me, I was completely taken aback. I had never heard him say anything positive about me before, so it felt like a huge shock.

My emotions got the best of me and I started sobbing. Tears of joy, pain, and relief streamed down my face as I felt every emotion I had been bottling up for so long come pouring out.

My dad wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. We both just cried together for what felt like an eternity. I had never felt so close to him before, and it was the most beautiful moment of my life.

Never really healed from there

But unfortunately, that moment was fleeting. Our relationship never fully recovered and we were never able to get back to where we once were.

We both tried our best to make it work, but it just wasn’t meant to be.

I look back on that moment fondly, but it also serves as a reminder of what could have been. I will always cherish the memory of my dad and I crying in each other’s arms, but it’s a reminder of the fact that we were never able to fully reconcile our relationship.

I will always regret that.