“There is a really nice park in the city center. I can take you there. We can get cinnamon pancakes or something, or maybe hot chocolate?”
I sigh, fidgeting with my braided hair that is hanging over my shoulder. “My mom’s grave is next to the park.”
“Oh,” he says quietly. “Sorry, I should have just let you speak without interrupting.”
“It’s ok. I know it’s not a safe area, which is why I didn’t just go alone. Please, will you take me there?” I ask again.
“Yes, of course I will. Do you want to go now?”
“Yes, please. I want to stop and get some flowers on the way. It’s silly, but I think sunflowers are her favorite.”
“We will find the most beautiful sunflowers in town then. There is a flower seller near the subway. They always have the most beautiful exotic flowers; if there are sunflowers anywhere, they’ll be there.”
“You buy a lot of girls flowers?” I muse with a tinge of jealousy.
He chuckles. “No, not at all, actually. But my sisters love flowers.”
The flower boutique is magnificent. They have flowers in there that I have never seen in my life, in colors I didn’t know existed. Luckily, they also have sunflowers. I end up choosing the sunflowers, but at Adrian’s encouragement, I also get my mom a huge bouquet of rare flowers so she can enjoy their beauty.
Now we are at the gravesite, and I’m walking toward her tombstone.
Last time I was here, I scrubbed it clean, and it’s still looking good even through the winter weather. Adrian stays back, giving me space to be alone with her.
My gloved hands are wrapped around the massive bunch of flowers.
I smile as I near her grave.
“Hi mom,” I say softly.
My heart warms immediately as though she’s answering me.
I prop the flowers up against her headstone, carefully wedging two beautiful stones on either side to keep them where I set them.
With my gloved hand, I dust off the edge of the stone wall right next to her and sit down on it.
“Sorry, I haven’t been to visit in a while. Some things have been happening.”
For twenty minutes, I talk to her. I tell her about Dad. I tell her about Adrian. I tell her about everything that has been stuck in my head and clouding my thoughts, and she listens, and I feel her laugh every now and then. She makes me feel like life is full of ups and downs, and every little mountain is only an opportunity to learn something about myself and to growstronger. She tells me that if I let myself get quiet and stop being impatient, my heart will know what to do.
I stand up from her grave side feeling lighter.
Glancing behind me, I see Adrian quietly watching me, as patient as ever.
I motion for him to come over. I told my mom all about him; I may as well introduce them.
He walks to my side with his hands deep in his pockets to ward off the cold.
“This is um… this is my mom. Where she’s resting.”
He smiles, his eyes soften as he looks from me to my mom’s gravestone.
“Did she help you clear your mind as you hoped?” he asks.
I nod. “She always does. I have no idea how it works, but whether they are by our side or not, mothers have a way of being magical,” I smile.
He wraps his arm around me and gives me a gentle hug. “If she were right by your side now, I bet she’d be incredibly proud of the amazing woman you have become, Athena,” he whispers.
I glance up at him. “I always told my mom everything. It never felt like I was burdening her when I spoke to her. It’s not the same with my dad. With him, I kept my thoughts to myself because somewhere inside, I guess I knew he didn’t really have the time to hear. Maybe he’s always been selfish. Maybe my mom’s death made him that way. But in his eyes, I was just a good daughter. A quiet, well-behaved daughter who never caused trouble, and it was only because I never spoke my mind or complained.”
