Trickling Descent

I have front row seats to observe a trickling descent into madness. He has taken himself off his medications again. He kept it secret for three months now.

There were faint whispers of peculiarity. Subtle enough to be disguised as progress. I thought he was beginning to climb onto my plans for his future. It even seemed that he was initiating steps beyond my timeline. Alas, I was misguided by my own optimism.

I cannot know what lurks in his mind and the travels it will take in the days ahead. His behavior will change. Bizarre communications and poor decision making will occur. However, my initial anger has receded, and I am no longer afraid.

Madness. Nuts. Crazy. Insane. All words from times gone by. Those narratives no longer have meaning. We are all unique beings navigating our own path, despite the deep grooves engraved in the road.

My children have taught me this broader acceptance of the human condition. This may be Gen-Z's best contribution to humanity. To see the light below the surface and embrace divergence.

I am acutely aware that this journey will not be easy. But no matter the barriers we will encounter and how cloudy the outcome currently is, there will be a stronger brotherhood that I thought when he first "fell ill" had permanently disappeared.