Because I'm still your son

Dad,

You have Alzheimer’s. This means you don’t always remember things. It means you don’t always understand things. Still, even if it’s somewhere deep within you, I think you’ve noticed.

I don’t talk to you very much anymore.

In fact, I tell other people: “I don’t talk to my dad at all anymore.”

The exception is if you ask me a question that I can’t answer with a hand gesture. Or if I need to address both you and mom. And there will always be other exceptions.

But they will be the exception.

I don’t like this new rule of mine. But I don’t have much of a choice anymore. I have to defend myself. I still have to support you, and this is my way to do both.

Dad, I’m kind of afraid to talk to you. That’s the truth. I’m tired of you yelling at me. I want it to stop. I don’t think if I’ve ever admitted to you how much it hurts when you yell at me.