My name is Paradot Winslow, and at 72, I believed I had raised my son with love, values, and every opportunity I could afford. When I transferred him nearly a million dollars from my life savings, I thought it was security for his future. Instead, I awoke to an empty house and a short note on the kitchen table. “Thanks for the money. Goodbye.” No explanation, no embrace, not even a promise to call. It felt like a chapter closing without grace — not just of his visit, but of our relationship as I knew it.

Instead of breaking, I steadied myself. I collected the note, organized my thoughts, and reviewed the paperwork I had once signed to help him through a difficult financial period. In his rush to leave, he forgot one thing: trust carries responsibilities. I still held a valid power of attorney that allowed me access to the funds — funds I had planned to be his legacy. I visited his apartment and found it empty, proof that his departure was intentional, not emotional confusion. It hurt deeply, but clarity has a way of guiding the heart.