I've read this twice. After the first time, I had to take a day then read it again before I could comment. But I carried it in my head during that 24 hours. That's how affecting your writing is. I hurt for Karl, but I also hurt for the 7-year-old boy. Kids are still practically babies themselves at that age and in no way can be held responsible for the life and death of another child. It was not your fault. Such a burden never should have been put on a young child...to care for a toddler at the edge of a lake. A child that age isn't mature enough for the capacity and judgment to manage such a situation. That's not the fault of the child; it's natural development. Your story is a heartbreaking tragedy for everyone involved. I hope the deep (and undeserved) self-hatred you describe can be healed. I hope the act of writing about it helped.
Wow! Sad but also inspiring. Love you bud! Take care. Phil
Thanks for taking time with me.Phil.
Hugs
Thank you so much for reading. That means the world to me.
I've read this twice. After the first time, I had to take a day then read it again before I could comment. But I carried it in my head during that 24 hours. That's how affecting your writing is. I hurt for Karl, but I also hurt for the 7-year-old boy. Kids are still practically babies themselves at that age and in no way can be held responsible for the life and death of another child. It was not your fault. Such a burden never should have been put on a young child...to care for a toddler at the edge of a lake. A child that age isn't mature enough for the capacity and judgment to manage such a situation. That's not the fault of the child; it's natural development. Your story is a heartbreaking tragedy for everyone involved. I hope the deep (and undeserved) self-hatred you describe can be healed. I hope the act of writing about it helped.
Also, that photo of the tree is amazing.
Thank you Janet.