I had no answer.
Leo got up and walked away from the table.
I followed him into the hallway.
“I thought my mother had abandoned me and that you just didn’t want me to know,” she said.
Announcement:
“I didn’t want you to think I didn’t love you. I love you, Leo.”
“But did you also think she left because of me?”
“Yes, and I hated her for 18 years.”
He angrily wiped his face.
“I’m glad she loved me. Is that a bad thing?”
"No."
“I feel angry too.”
"Me too."
Advertisement
We stood there crying together, relieved by the truth and hurt by it at the same time.
Then Leo asked, “What was she like?”
That question broke something inside me.
In 18 years, he hadn't told her anything about his mother.
I had told myself that I was protecting him.
Realizing that made me feel bad.
Goldi had decided that I couldn't bear to lose her.
Announcement:
She had decided that Leo wouldn't be able to stand meeting her.
The same kind of silence had been passed down from one parent to the other.
“Come with me,” I said.
I took it to the garage.
At the back of a closet was a sealed plastic box that I hadn't opened since we moved out of our old apartment.
It was too painful for me to look at what was inside.
