Burden of Guilt

James Reynolds stood in the hallway, listening to the muffled voices of his grandchildren coming from the living room. Pietro had just dropped off Jared and Lorenzo, for a playdate with their half-brother Liam, so he could attend a work meeting. As the door closed behind Pietro, James felt the weight of the situation settle heavily on his shoulders. His son, Jason, had brought so much pain and chaos into their lives, and the guilt of his actions gnawed at him constantly.

James walked to the living room doorway and peered inside. Jared, Lorenzo, and Liam were sitting on the floor, surrounded by toys and games, their innocent faces clouded with worry and sadness. Jared, the oldest, spoke with a maturity that belied his seven years.

“I don’t like Daddy,” Jared said, his voice firm. “He took Mommy away, and now we can’t see her.”

Lorenzo, looked up with wide, tear-filled eyes. “I miss Mommy. When will she come back?”

Liam, wrapped an arm around Lorenzo’s shoulders, trying to comfort h