When I was younger，I thought that boys and grown men shouldn't cry．The tears were signs of being
(1) ，which a man wasn't supposed to be．
But later，I
(2) that courage isn't all about trying to keep all the pain in check and trying to hide the
(3) ．
My 18-year-old sister eloped（私奔） and with it，I saw how weak my father's heart was．We were used to seeing him as a（n）
(4) father．
For three days he wouldn't talk．He would just sit
(5) outside our house in the dark．On the fourth night，I sat beside him and
(6) him to tell me what he feels about
(7) ．
It has been years since I have laid my hand on my father's shoulder as we have drifted apart（疏远） farther and farther while I was
(8) up．That night though，I sensed my father trying to
(9) his pain and I wanted him to be able to let it out．We all have cried over what happened except him．
The
(10) touch and my words，"Dad，it's not your
(11) "，broke my father's dam（水闸）．In the darkness，he began to cry．I
(12) his shoulders shaking as he whispered，"
(13) did I go wrong？All I ever wanted was for my children to grow up
(14) ．Why couldn't your sister wait？"
I understand then why he
(15) to be in the dark．
(16) being there，he hoped to spare his
(17) of a father's pain．His tears，
(18) we didn't see them before that night，were there all the same．
I saw his
(19) that night when my father cried with my hand on his shoulder，and
(20) his pain．