Thirty-Six: RowynIt was so rare to see my mother cry. Even when my dad left, she was more quiet than anything. This was not quiet; it made my heart twist in its cage.
“Mom, I'm here, what's going on?” It was pretty obvious she hadn't heard me come in, because she tried to play it off like she had the freaking sniffles. “Don't do that, okay? I'm not seven. Don't pretend it's nothing or like you're chopping onions or something.” She looked at me like it was the first time she ever contemplated the fact I was almost an adult. Her eyes were red and swimming in hurt, and I hugged her in a way I hadn't for a long time.
“Karen called, and she wants me to say something at the service. She said…she said she's going to try to speak, but she doesn't know if she can, and she wants… I don't know, exa
