"but to this day I'm still sad about the lost opportunity that I could have had"

My oh my, that says so much, so very very much. We grieve.

I give you a lot of credit for not placing blame. You are much further ahead than I. And I don't know if I will ever be able to reach that point.

But, by your getting beyond the placement of responsibility, you have grown into an accomplished writer. Yes, accomplished. To have anything printed in any journal, shows accomplishment. You didn't let your "lost opportunity" remain complete lost. You went out and grabbed some of it back. Whereas, I still find it necessary to hide it.

Feel good about how far you have come--Kudos to you!!!