Chapter 32

For a moment, we stood in silence, the

of distance between us heavy in the air. Then Vesta's face brightened as she remembered something. "How's your son?" she asked, her voice full of warmth. "The last time I saw him, he was just a baby. He must be, what, a teenager by Her question hit me like a punch to the gut. I felt the air leave my lungs as the ache I had buried deep inside rose to the surface. "He... he's gone, Vesta," I

yea

whispered, my throat tightening. "He died."

Vesta's face fell, and her hand flew to her

mouth. "Oh my God, Doris... I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

I forced a smile, though my heart felt

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His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace,

3

32

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heavy. "How could you have known? We

lost touch."

Tears welled up in Vesta's eyes as she reached out to hug me again, this time softer; more carefully. "I'm so, so sorry," she whispered. "I can't even imagine what you've been through." 'I didn't cry. I had cried so many tears over

the years that there were none left.

Instead,

I stood there, letting her hold me, feeling the weight of everything I had carried alone for so long. When she finally let go, Vesta wiped her eyes and looked at

me with renewed determination.

through so much," she said softly. "But you're here now, and I'm here

hope stirring inside me. Maybe I didn't have to go through

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Pleas, But Our Son's in

3

32

32

checkup, why don't

Vesta suggested, her

"There's so much I want to catch up

7

part of me wanting to

what it was like to have someone to lean on, wanted to let her

finally.

before stepping back. "Great! I'll meet you after your appointment. We've

swirling inside me-sadness, relief, maybe even a bit of hope. It

His Knees His Pless

out of the medical wing and into a long,

It was strange how time had pulled

softened, and she reached out to gently touch my arm. "I've missed you too, Doris.

the first time in a long while, I felt the stirrings of something like

As we continued

the hallway, I reali

realized that this could

of something

what I had

my side again, maybe I could find

face whatever came next.

say anything more,

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His Pleas, But

37

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