Red String (joshler)

17

I found out your mother had died the previous week. Your voice had been quaking when you told me. You said that the reason you asked me to buy you groceries that one time was because you were too upset to leave the apartment.

your mother had had cancer. That explained why you always looked like you were watching a storm approach. That explained why you were afraid when I was sick, even though cancer is so so much worse than a fever.

you began to cry. Your tears cut down your cheeks like diamonds and I hated myself for thinking they were beautiful.

I held your hand for the very first time.