It fucking tears me up from the inside out. I instantly pull her onto my lap, cradling her into my chest, my arms wrapped tightly around her. Using my fingers to tilt her chin up to mine, I wait until her watery eyes meet mine to talk. “You honor your mom every day by going after your dream, just like she did. You make your mom proud every day simply by being you. I may have never met her, but I’d bet my life that it’s true.” More tears fall down her cheeks now, and, this time, I brush them away with my thumb. She leans into my touch.
