When I was 18, my parents organized a trip and allowed me to invite my first lover, Tom. My father liked Tom, but during the trip, he flirted with other girls. Later that day, I noticed Dad pull him aside and whisper something in his ear.

Then he stated, “Tom is leaving now.” Tom went white and departed. Ten years later, I received an unexpected text from him saying, “Your father told me that day that I was not treating his daughter the way she deserved, and that if I continued to treat people that way, I’d lose someone important and regret it forever.”

“His words stayed with me for years.” As I read the note, I realized that what my father did that day affected not just me, but also my ex. It dramatically altered how I perceived and regarded myself.