Often when she and the boy visit family, I stay behind. It’s unusually quiet here without them, but the solitude provides the occasion to think about life, mostly to question who I used to be and to resolve my spiritual goals. Despite the importance, I’m only recently comfortable entering such a personal refuge to examine my character; I guess that kind of growth is part of getting older.

Recently someone asked me if I get lonely at home without them. I didn’t know how to reply because it felt insensitive to say out loud that I enjoy the deeper withdrawal, and the opportunity to better know my self. Most people just don’t understand.