A Letter to Amy: A Father's Plea for Understanding

The Weight of Words

Dear Amy,

I write these words not with anger, but with a heart burdened by sorrow, confusion, and a desperate hope that you might one day see the human being behind the paper trail.

You told an officer that I am “out of touch with reality.” That I am a man lost in delusions. But the reality I know—every single painful inch of it—is one you helped shape. It is a reality where a father is severed from his children, where truth is twisted until it becomes unrecognizable, and where the system you represent uses its power not to protect families but to tear them apart.

A Father's Grief

You don’t know the sleepless nights spent worrying whether my boys remember how much I love them. You don’t know the tears that come without warning when I see their empty beds. Each day, I fight to prove myself and hold onto hope in a world that tries to convince me I’m unworthy.

Yet you stood before law enforcement and declared me broken. Dangerous. Unwell.

Reflections on Reality

But Amy, if being “out of touch with reality” means believing a father should hug his children without fear—then I pray I never return to your version of reality. If it means refusing to accept a world where bureaucracy trumps compassion, then I will remain proudly out of step. If it means loving my kids so fiercely that I refuse to be silent, then I will always stand exactly where I am.

I invite you, Amy, to step into my reality for just a moment:

• A reality where your words carry the power to destroy or heal.

• A reality where families are not case numbers but sacred bonds.

• A reality where a father’s mental health challenges—born from trauma and injustice—are not weapons but reasons to offer support and understanding.

• A reality where every child deserves the unwavering presence of a parent who loves them.

  
  

A Father's Identity

I am not the villain in this story. I am a father—flawed, hurting, and human—fighting for the right to be a dad. I have faced many obstacles, yet my resolve remains unshaken. The love I have for my children is limitless. That is the truth I carry with me each day.

Standing Firm

I will not let your false words define me. I will not be shamed into silence. And I will not rest until the truth is louder than the lies. I encourage you, and others who share your perspective, to reconsider the impact of your words and actions. It is essential to understand the human experiences behind legal titles.

A Call for Compassion

One day, I hope you remember this letter. I hope you realize that we could have built a bridge of compassion instead of a wall of fear. Until then, I will keep fighting for my children, for justice, and for every parent who has been told they are “out of touch” simply for daring to love.

The fight for familial bonds is a universal one, and I wish for more compassionate dialogue surrounding it. We must strive to understand the stories of those affected and work toward healing rather than division.

With a heart that still believes in kindness,

Ryan Taylor George Michaels