It shocks me, hurts me a little, but I don’t think he’s doing it to punish me. I think he’s doing it because he knows his own emotions are completely overwhelming and he doesn’t want to make me feel them. He’s protecting me and pulling back so he doesn’t share what he’s experiencing. He stands, lets go of his mom’s hand, and looks over my head at the doc with a glazed, distant expression and not what I was expecting at all. A look of determination as that leader takes over and he stands that little bit taller, moving in to take charge.

“How long do you need before you...