Hope dangles on a string, like slow spinning redemption. (Dashboard Confessional, Vindicated)

“Your father was a lot like Ricky, but he was better. He could deal with people better. If your father had been the leader of the group Ricky might still be alive. If Ricky was alive Vinnie might be, that kid lived for Ricky. My boys would have lived different lives if Tommy hadn't met Penny. They completed one another. They were, and still are, soulmates in the purest form. There was something a little disappointing about it though. I was happy to see Tommy so happy and Penny is great but it was still disappointing. He couldn't focus the same because a piece of him was always with her and he had something to lose so he didn't play the same. But then there was you and it all made sense. He was compromised so you could be born. You were their vindication in my eyes and now that's why it kills me to see you making his mistakes. Think of what you've accomplished already. Imagine what you could do. I’d never known a powerful woman before you. When you're not around I can still feel you, like an extension of myself. You have so much promise, Honey. You could do anything, you could be anyone: choose carefully.”

Helluva speech, right? I guess that's why he didn't talk much. He was saving it all up for such an occasion. I didn't know what to make of it exactly. I had to think it all over awhile.