David R Lewis

My father worked hard in finance. For a long time that was who he was, and he was good at it. Then he was let go, and he never fully found his way back. The resilience it takes to start over wasn't there when he needed it, and his confidence went with the job. He took small work after that, well below what he had once done, and I think it sat heavily on him for the rest of his life. He had an affair. He hit me. Then he left, and I did not see him again. He died 23 years later. I won't pretend the anger wasn't the main thing. He had a short temper and it filled a lot of the room. But it wasn't the only thing. We had good times, real ones. He smiled sometimes. He loved his football, and he supported Manchester United through all of it. He was not an easy man, and not always a kind one. But he stepped up to be my adopted father when i didn't have one, which I appreciate, and I forgive him.