Levi was always a sensitive child. After he presented as an omega, he struggled. We sought professional help immediately and followed their advice, which told us to respect his wish for privacy and space. We believed that was the right thing to do.
Maybe we followed that advice too closely. Maybe, in trying to respect his boundaries, we pulled away when we should have held on. We thought giving him distance would help him heal. Looking back, I can see how that might have looked like neglect to others, but it wasn't.
We never stopped loving him. We never threw him away. We tried to honor an old family obligation in a way that we believed would give him stability and purpose. We thought we were helping him find his place in the world.
When he disappeared after meeting Mr. Sterling, we were terrified. Completely terrified. The police reports show the lengths we went to find him. And when we learned he was alive, the relief was indescribable.
