Chapter 10: The Start
The house was quiet.
My mother was sitting on the porch, drinking tea.
"Mariana. How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay."
"Really?"
I sat down beside her.
"Really. I think I'm finally okay."
She smiled.
"I'm proud of you."
"You keep saying that."
"Because I mean it."
I leaned against her.
"You know what the hardest part was?"
"What?"
"Letting go of the anger."
"It's hard to let go of something that kept you alive," she said.
"How did you do it? After my father died. How did you let go?"
"I didn't," she said. "I kept the anger. I just let it fade."
"How?"
"By realizing that holding onto it was hurting me more than it was hurting anyone else."
I nodded.
"I think I finally understand that."
"Good."
We sat in silence.
"This is nice," I said.
"It is."
I closed my eyes.
May you like
Felt the warmth of the sun.
And for the first time in four years, I felt hope.
