All parents damage their children. This was their life together. Neglect. Violence. Silence. And now, someplace beyond death, Eddie slumped against a stainless steel wall and dropped into a snowbank, stung again by the denial of a man whose love, almost inexplicably, he still coveted, a man ignoring him, even in heaven. His father. The damage done.
The quote reflects the complex relationship between parents and children, emphasizing that all parents inflict some level of harm on their offspring, whether through neglect, violence, or emotional unavailability. It portrays a reality of shared pain and silence within a family, where even after death, the longing for parental love persists despite the wounds inflicted.
Eddie's experience in the afterlife illustrates his unresolved feelings towards his father, highlighting the impact of their troubled relationship. Even in a place beyond life, Eddie grapples with the denial of his father's affection, portraying a tragic cycle of seeking approval and love that remains unfulfilled, underscoring the theme of lasting emotional scars.
