our relationship was stripped down to its barest form and I was able to see it more clearly. I realized that I was always the one to call and check in, and that my dad reached out only when he needed something from me (advice, a confidence boost, money). I’d beg him to be interested in my life, to be part of it, and I didn’t know if it was supposed to be that hard to have a close-ish relationship with your parent.
