Oliver, my six-year-old son who doesn’t talk, has always been smart and creative in finding new ways to communicate because of his rare situation. He told a shocking family secret one day by writing “Dad lies!” on his hand.
I didn’t think much of my husband James’s early return from work at first. But Oliver’s warning made it clear that something wasn’t right. I became suspicious of James because he did strange things like taking calls outside and making strange meetings.
When I saw James and our nanny, Tessa, talking quietly to each other, it made my worries worse. Something important seemed to be being said by Oliver’s intense look. His art, which was mostly pictures of his family and love symbols, started to show up more often.
The truth came out when Oliver gave me James’s bag, which was full of medical records showing that he had Stage 3 cancer. James had kept his illness a secret because he was afraid it would take away from our time together.
James told Tessa about how she helped him keep his secret, which made her cry. I felt lied to and wondered why he didn’t trust me with the truth.
Oliver’s speech broke the silence and brought us all together. We faced the problems ahead as a team. Tessa went from being a confidante to a support system, helping with meals and being there with her during treatments.
Oliver’s art became a way for him to deal with things, and it showed how strong our family is. The pictures he made showed James in the hospital, surrounded by love and hope.
James realised he was wrong to keep the truth from everyone; he knew that being weak is what makes you strong. The beauty of being open made our family tie stronger.
Oliver showed off his newest work one night by writing “Family” on one hand and “Forever” on the other. I thought at that time that unspoken facts and the love between my family members were strong.
