Chapter 10 - Sarah Chooses When To Listen
Rebecca asked Sarah for a private conversation.
Sarah said no.
Not forever.
Just not yet.
Thomas immediately warned, “You might regret waiting.”
Sarah looked at him.
“That sentence is exactly how everyone in this story keeps controlling
everyone else.”
Thomas fell silent.
“You’re right.”
Weeks later, Sarah chose to meet Rebecca in a public park.
Daniel stayed home with Lily.
Rebecca brought no evidence and no excuses.
Sarah asked:
“Did you love me?”
“Yes.”
“Then why wasn’t love enough to come back?”
Rebecca cried.
“Because love and courage aren’t the same thing.”
She admitted that staying away initially protected Sarah, but later it
also protected Rebecca from facing what her absence had done.
“That part belongs to me.”
The honesty opened a small door.
Rebecca told Sarah ordinary memories.
Sarah hated peas.
She slept to Motown records.
Her first word was “light.”
Sarah laughed despite herself.
Before leaving, Rebecca gave her a photograph of Thomas holding baby
Sarah while Rebecca stood beside him.
At home, Lily studied it.
“That’s your mommy?”
“Yes.”
“Do you love her?”
Sarah smiled sadly.
“I don’t know her enough yet.”
Lily accepted that immediately.
Children understood gradual relationships better than adults sometimes
did.
Then Lily showed Sarah a drawing of the family.
Daniel, Sarah, and Lily stood in the center.
Thomas and Rebecca were farther away.
Evelyn stood beside Daniel.
Margaret was missing.
Sarah asked gently:
“Why isn’t Grandma there?”
Lily answered:
“I don’t want her in my picture today.”
Sarah kissed her forehead.
“Okay.”
May you like
Today was enough.
No one forced tomorrow.
