They made us sleep on the floor with my children… Three days later, my mother called me 98 times begging for forgiveness.

pale, with an IV in her arm. She no longer looked powerful. She looked tired and human.

“Clara…”

“The children are outside. They’re fine.”

Her eyes closed tightly.

“I didn’t ask about them, did I?”

I didn’t answer.

That was answer enough.

She began to cry quietly.

“I always thought you could take more,” she whispered. “You were the strong one. So I gave you continue reading …