Chapter 17 - Cade refuses the beach

For three months, Cade would not go near the ocean.
Not even with vest.
His therapist said:
“Do not force return.”
So we didn’t.
Pool work resumed first.
He stood on first step.
Then second.
One day he put his face near water.
Not in.
Near.
That counted.
Pierce asked:
“Can I come?”
Cade said:
“No.”
Pierce accepted.
That mattered.
Two weeks later:
“Daddy can sit over there.”
Pierce sat twenty feet away.
Did not coach.
Did not clap.
Did not say:
May you like
Be brave.
The hardest thing for him became silence.