It does. But at the same time you know the dad didn't leave for milk and actually cared about you when he learned you existed. Even if the dad is about to die, he at least knows that the dad wasn't an ass and was just in a battle to remember his mom and know about him
Well, that’s what I’m saying. That’s the rose colored glasses view of it.
There’s this question posed, I forget from where I heard it, but basically it’s like “was it better to have been loved and lost than to have never been loved at all” since at least to have never been loved you don’t know what you’re missing. Whereas to have lost you then know what you’re missing from then onward. That’s the sort of question I’m posing here.
I don’t know which is worse or what I would prefer. If he was just a POS at least they’d have come to terms with that due to how long it had been and everything that’s happened. But with this sort of tragic backstory, momma gets no closure (dead) dad gets no closure (robbed of his entire youth and love of his life/childs entire growing period he’s fucking in his 30s) and his kid barely gets closure because again he’s nearing middle age.
Like, this almost feels like MORE of a burden having to meet your dad who is going to die in a few years (old as hell clearly) and overcome your years deep aversion to the version of him in your head to try and get to know him for that little time (if kid wants) while knowing that your mom will never know any of this.
What a wildly uncomfortable and unfortunate situation for everyone involved. Hence, the run of the mill dad leaving for milk almost seems easier.