Hi! It’s me! Lily!
I had a hard time keeping my mind on school. I know! Me, right? Sweet, studious Lily? Pfft. Silly Billy Lily is more like it most days. But today I’m kind of sad.
I know I don’t know how things were pre-virus, but I know how they are now, and I hate to see how sad it makes Sabby. I mean, she tries to hide it, and she tries to live life normally, but I can see it wears on her sometimes. I think it wears on Dave, too, but differently. Beth can still see her friends and her life is about as normal as they can make it, but even she feels the impact sometimes. It’s like things will never get better, and every time it looks like it’s going to, something else hit.
So this morning I found Sabby making breakfast. I think sometimes she cooks to take her mind off things. And she’s a good cook! But her mind seemed elsewhere. So I walked up behind her, turned her around, and gave her a big hug.
“What’s that for?,” she said, seeming puzzled.
“You’ve been there for me when I’ve been sad,” I said. “And you seem sad. Can I be there for you?”
“I’m your -”
“You’re someone who needs to cry,” I said simply. And I felt her body start to shake. I was right. After a minute or two, she sniffled and wiped her eyes. “How did you know?,” she asked, turning back to breakfast.
“I know crying,” I said, “And I know when someone needs to cry. Particularly -“, I choked up a bit myself. “Particularly someone I love.”
“Oh Lily!”, she said, and scooped me up in the biggest motherly hug I could ever want. “Don’t ever change,” she sniffled. “Please don’t ever change.” She rubbed my head. “I need to finish breakfast.”
“Don’t hold it in,” I said. “You don’t have to be strong for me.”
“I do,” she said, simply. “If not for you, then for everyone else. I have to… be strong.” Her lip was quivering. “But I know what you’re trying to say. I don’t have to be strong all the time.”
I nodded. “You don’t. You just have to be my mother.”
I think our breakfast was seasoned with a few tears this morning. It was still delicious.
Love you all!!! ❤️