She hugged me tightly. Thank you, Aunt Helena. For everything.
I answered the embrace. “Anytime.” You belong to the family here.
She left, and I stood in the quiet kitchen. Sam watched me, proud in her eyes.
“Hey,” I said. I am proud of you. You have not only noticed that someone is suffering – you have acted.
Sam smiled with his armpits. “You would have done the same, Mom.”
I realized that every sacrifice, every hard decision had shaped them into someone I admired.
The next day Sam and Lizie came in laughing.
“Mom, what’s for dinner?” asked Sam.
“Rice,” I said. “And anything I can stretch.”
This time I thoughtlessly put down four plates.
