My father and I had a difficult relationship when I was young. He was strict, angry, and rarely apologized. Years later, during a family gathering, I walked past a room and heard him talking to my uncle.
He said, "I was too hard on that boy. I thought fear would make him strong." He didn't know I was outside. I stood there silently and then walked away before they saw me. My father has still never apologized directly, and part of me wishes he would. But another part carries that overheard sentence like a letter he was never brave enough to send.