—mommy? why is daddy leaving?
i remember asking my mother at age nine

—mama? why are you crying?
i remember asking my mother at age 10

—mom? why are you leaving?
i remember asking my mother at age 11

—i love you darling, okay? come with me, we are leaving the unspoken behind. we don't need anything that the mystery man has
i remember my mother saying, as she healed the broken parts of her body, soul, and heart. age

~mine