That kind of thinking wasn’t good for anything. What happened, happened, and we were all here now, working together to try to be a family, to be happy and safe.
I wasn’t going to be bitter. I wasn’t going to push away my mother after only finding her. What would be the use in that?
Besides, I could never be mad at her for having a kind heart, even if it did end up hurting us.
Leaning forward, I wrapped my arms around Mom’s shoulders and pulled her into a tight hug.
I knew the words she needed to hear, what would make this better.
I also knew that only I could say them to her.
“I forgive you,” I told her.
At once, she reached around me, holding onto my back as tightly as I was holding hers. She cried more now, but they were a different sort of tears.
These were tears of relief.
Mom
