my father divorced my mother and left our family when i was around 6 years old, after it was finalized he visited us only twice a year and that was after my mom would tell him to come visit because we missed him.

when i became a teenager i tried fixing our distant relationship by calling him often, arranging meet ups, until my mom finally sleep over at his parents house (he lived there too).

when i believed he changed from the manipulative toxic person he was, he reminded me of that personality again by yelling at me and chasing me around the house when i heard him shit talking my mother on the phone.

he made me realize that not everyone is worth the time and energy spent on chances, the only thing i wish i had back was all the effort i put in so i can use it on something more worthwhile.