"Honey, I know you loved her." Mom's voice is muffled through my door. But I hear the sadness there.
"Mom!" I cry and open the door. I collapse into her arms. "Mom, she cheated! How could she?"
"Mare, honey, you'll be okay. I'm here now. Shhh, now it's okay." We sit on the my bed and she rubs my back as I cry some more.
"Mom?" I ask. We haven't talked for a while, but I feel like she's the only one I can talk to now that Sara went off to college. "When did you get home?"
"I came home yesterday, honey. I stayed at the Motel 6 on ninth so I could gather my bearings. Dad told me about Alia cheating on you. I'm so sorry." She looks down in shame.
"Mom. . .thank you." I say.
"For what?"
"Coming home for me. I know I wasn't the best child and you still came back." My voice breaks. "And Alia, God, why do people do the things they do?"
"I don't know, Mare. I really don't know." She whispers and takes my hand. "But I do know one thing, crying solves nothing. We'll go get ice cream."
"I don't want people to see me, Mom!" I cry, but stand up anyways.
"Hey, look at me. Mare, look at me." Stern. Mom's only stern when we don't listen. I look at her. "Baby, people are gonna put so much on your shoulders, but you're a strong woman. I know that because I raised you. Now, lets get you dressed."
"Okay." I say, in a child's whisper of my voice.
"Green dress." Is all mom says then walks away. Guess that's what I'm gonna wear.
