CHAPTER 48
CHAPTER 48: THE PROMISE
One evening, my mother asked me to walk with her.
We ended up in the garden again.
It had become our place.
"I need another favor."
I smiled.
"You're asking for a lot of favors lately."
She laughed.
"I know."
Then she became serious.
"If there comes a day when I can't be here..."
"Mom."
"Please let me finish."
I stayed quiet.
She looked at the flowers.
"Promise me you won't stop living."
Tears filled my eyes.
"I won't."
"Promise me you'll keep drawing."
"I promise."
"And promise me you'll tell Ella our stories."
I smiled through my tears.
"The good ones or the embarrassing ones?"
"Both."
I laughed.
She squeezed my hand.
"Good."
Then she looked at me.
"You know, I used to think love meant protecting people from pain."
I listened.
"But now I think love means teaching people how to keep going."
The words stayed with me.
Because she was right.
Love wasn't the absence of pain.
May you like
It was what remained afterward.
And what helped you continue.
