I was just 12 when my dad passed away, and the loss was devastating, especially since my mother had died when I was young. My stepmother, the closest thing I had to a mom, barely acknowledged me during the funeral. Within two months, she left me with my grandparents and remarried. I was heartbroken, but my grandparents stepped in and gave me the support I needed.
Years later, while I was working as a doctor, I ran into her at the hospital. She looked different—vulnerable. She confessed that my father’s death had sent her into a deep depression, and by the time she realized the depth of it, her new marriage had already crumbled. She had spent years in therapy trying to recover, and now, with a cancer diagnosis, she was asking for forgiveness and for me to reconnect.
I feel torn. Part of me still resents her for abandoning me when I needed her most, but I also understand depression is a real illness. I’m unsure whether I should forgive her or keep my distance. What should I do?
