Children are remarkably good at filling in the blanks. When a parent leaves, the explanation isn't always clear, but the story a child tells themselves about that absence can linger for decades.

For Mal Foster, growing up without a father shaped everything from his sense of self-worth to the way he approached relationships, health, and personal growth. 

His story offers a thoughtful look at how childhood experiences continue to influence adulthood, and what it takes to stop carrying responsibilities that were never yours to begin with.