All We Ever Wanted

by Emily Giffin

What I can’t stand are the judgmental hypocrites—people who talk a big Christian game yet don’t even make a cursory attempt to follow the Golden Rule, let alone some of those pesky commandments.

Parenting can be a real drain, even when sharing the misery with a spouse. Alone it was hard as fuck.

It was probably a function of getting older—I think we all become exaggerated versions of ourselves,

But I cherished our filterless relationship and considered it the truest measure of a best friend, greater than pure affection. Who was the person you trusted enough to be your most transparent self with, in both good times and bad? For me, that person had always been Julie.

Give Finch fewer material possessions and more of my time. I would have tried harder to keep talking to him, even when he no longer wanted me to.

But I also knew in my heart that I wouldn’t cover for my son if he committed a terrible crime. Any crime. I wouldn’t lie for him. I wouldn’t obstruct justice for him. I would stand by him, but I would also want him to confess and truly repent and bear responsibility for his actions. I would want him to earn and deserve his forgiveness.

“Justice isn’t only about what a person deserves, but also about what a person needs.”

“Nonsense,” she said. “People make time for what matters to them.”

What’s the saying? Money makes you more of what you already are?”

Because sometimes you just can’t see the things that are the closest to you.