They stared at me in surprise.
“And what about you, Mom?”
“I still have five days left. And for the first time, I’m not going to sacrifice them for anyone else.”
Michael laughed.
“So what
are you going to do tomorrow?”
“I’m going swimming in the morning. Then I’m going to eat ice cream. And in the evening, I’m going dancing with Daniel.”
Sarah smiled through her tears.
“Are you really happy, Mom?”
For the first time in a very long time, I answered without hesitation.
“Yes.”
The following morning, I put on my blue swimsuit again.
Daniel was waiting for me on the beach.
He was still extremely thin and slowly recovering his strength. But that day, we walked together, taking our time, all
the way to the water’s edge.
“You know something, Margaret?” he said. “Thomas would be so proud of you.”
I looked out at the ocean.
