Dear Dad, 
I'm sorry that you're hurting,
And that it all turned to anger. 
I'm sorry that you grew up rough, 
And that you felt the burden of us on your shoulders. 

I'm sorry that your world came crashing down, 
That day you found mom was no longer yours to ignore. 
I'm sorry that your future plans shattered along with your heart,
Loudly enough for us to still hear many years later. 

I'm sorry that the bottle became your best friend,
Because it never delivered on it's promise to dull your ache. 
And I'm sorry that we were only children,
Pain in our hearts, too young to understand you. 

I'm sorry that you felt you always came second, 
That hurt blinded you to my unconditional love and praise. 
I'm sorry that your temper always found you, 
No matter how many times you lost it. 

I'm sorry that the lovers of your bed were a temporary fix, 
And that they could not see more than your wallet and good times. 
I'm sorry that you chased another family, 
Instead of facing the trials and tribulations ours battled. 

I'm sorry that the friends you thought were ride or die,
Were the very friends that couldn't help but to cheat, to steal, to lie. 
And I'm sorry that all your trips to the pub,
Gave you friends for the night but never your friends for life. 

I'm sorry that, by your siblings and most, you were misunderstood,
That they never readied their warriors to break through your every defense. 
I'm sorry that most couldn't see, 
That your words spouted out of anger but never without love. 

I'm sorry that our decisions became ones you could not accept,
That despite our knowledge and maturity, you felt we were still too young and wrong. 
But most of all I'm sorry that even though I broke myself over and over to love you, 
You felt it still wasn't enough to keep you from
Packing up and starting anew - without me.