Alright, in last week's episode we covered chapters 5, 6, and 7, which showed basically

my infidelity in relationships that I had eventually getting a new girlfriend while I still

had an old girlfriend and leading up to the birth of Austin, which I was not at the hospital

for and should have been. So I know that's a very brief synopsis, but that I get you

a little bit up to speed because this episode is going to start with chapter 8, which

will have me taking more of a father role for the first time in my life. So without further

ado, enjoy.

Chapter 8. Love of another kind.

The arrival of Austin affected my life in surprising ways, like so many young people I was very

selfish and I clearly behaved accordingly. Austin would change that part of me. I was

not a quote unquote, kid person and I had no experience with babies. My sister Michelle

had just given birth to my niece April, a week before Austin arrived. Michelle lived

with us so I was around April, but I had only held her a few times during that week.

She said nothing to do with April and everything to do with my lack of soft side. There was

no desire in me to hold a baby, 30 seconds in and I was ready to give the baby right back

to their parents. The day after Austin was born, I visited him in

Sheryl at the hospital. When I arrived, Austin was already in the room. I looked at him

for a bit and Sheryl asked if I wanted to hold him. Initially I was reluctant, but once

he was safely in my arms and I stared into his eyes, my heart filled in a way that I had

never felt before. This was a feeling that I cannot describe words. This confused me because

I had held several babies before and never felt like this. Even though I did not have

a physical part in creating this baby, I felt an instant connection. I did not want to

...