The Weight of Unspoken Words

We write this letter, you’ll never read, 
Words stuck in our hearts, longing to be freed. 
Heavier than any weight we’ve ever known, 
More suffocating than nights spent alone.

We remember the day you walked away, 
Little boys with toys, begging you to stay. 
You ruffled our hair and said you’d be near, 
We believed your promise, year after year.

Weeks turned to months, then months into years, 
Your absence replaced with texts so unclear. 
Birthday wishes with words that felt cold, 
Christmas gifts that never held what they told.

Do you know the pain of making excuses? 
For your empty seat, for your absent bruises? 
Watching dads cheer, while we stood by, 
Pretending it didn’t hurt — pretending not to cry.

As anger grew, it burned in our chest, 
Hating the love we wanted at best. 
We chased perfection, hoping you’d see, 
That maybe our success would make you feel free.

But silence echoed through every call, 
Our triumphs lost in the absence of it all. 
We built our lives, grew into men, 
Without you, we learned to stand again.

Now, we let go, not for your sake, 
But for the boys who cried at the ache. 
For the teenagers waiting by the phone, 
For the men who grew up all alone.

We set down this weight, this burden we hold, 
No longer defined by the lies you’ve told. 
You share our blood, but you’re not our dad, 
A dad shows up — through good and bad.

Strangely, we’re thankful for what you taught, 
Resilience grew in the absence you brought. 
Now, we cherish the ones who stayed, 
Who filled the space where you once laid.

So, this is goodbye, to the boys by the door, 
To the hope that you’d return once more. 
We’re stronger now, in spite of you, 
We found our way, we made it through.

To those reading this, we say: 
You are enough, in every way. 
You are loved, you are whole, 
No one else can take that role.

To fathers who stay, when it’s tough to do, 
We see you, we thank you, and we love you too. 
And to our younger selves, it’s clear, 
We made it through, there’s no need to fear.