After the narrator's father died, they discovered love letters revealing a three-year secret relationship with Edward, a man from Canada. The father had lived closeted for nearly 40 years in an arranged marriage, finally finding happiness and authenticity with Edward in his final years. The narrator reflects on their distant relationship with their father, who was often absent but became a different person - joyful and glowing - when with his lover. Edward had sacrificed everything to be with him, expecting they would soon live openly together. The discovery brings both sweet understanding of who their father truly was and profound grief for the life he never got to live, while the mother feels her entire life was wasted on his deception.