The Pale-Faced Lie

by David Crow

Somehow, hurting other people made me hurt less.

Dad always had more compassion for animals than he did for humans. I was almost jealous of that poor coyote. Why couldn’t he show the same kindness toward his four children and their mom?

For the first time, I saw my behavior from someone else’s point of view.

Her definition of love was obligation and guilt.

“Be careful whenever everything is given to you,” Mr. Ashcroft said. “Because then you’ll be totally beholden to your masters.”

“You can’t change your childhood, but you can let it go,” he said.

Then it came to me. The only way to be free was to forgive them—and forgive myself.