This time, there was no escape, I could not turn away, could not leave without accepting what I had done. There was only one way to the other side, and that was through the pain.
There was only one way to the other side, and that was through the pain.
The open forgiveness in her eyes, the uncensored love, terrified me.
Nothing you could do would make me send you away. Nothing.
I believe you can prove everyone wrong, too, Victoria. Your behavior is a choice; it isn’t who you are.
Her eyes were open, taking in my tired face… Her face twitched into what looked like a squinty smile, and in her wordless expression I saw gratitude, and relief, and trust. I wanted, desperately, not to disappoint her.
Over time, we would learn each other, and I would learn to love her like a mother loves a daughter, imperfectly and without roots.
I would keep her, and raise her, and love her, even if she had to teach me how to do it.
Now, as an adult, my hopes for the future were simple: I wanted to be alone, and to be surrounded by flowers. It seemed, finally, that I might get exactly what I wanted.
We are more and more into technology. Everything is texting, and everything is instant. Flowers are completely impractical as a method of communication when you could just send a text.
We all make mistakes, and we all need second chances. For youth in foster care, these mistakes are often purposeful – if not consciously so; a way to test the strength of a bond and establish trust in a new parent.
Though politics is by nature divisive, surely we all can agree that foster children need stability, safety, education, opportunity – and love.