I realized the journey it took for the four of us to be there together, for Jeff to be all grown up and married, for me to be there with the love of my life, for Chad to celebrate my mother, letting her know that she, despite her guilt, had been the best mother she could be. She was enough. We were all enough.
After years of being told that I was some unhealthy, sick person who might never be able to be strong and independent, I had been living in Los Angeles on my own for years. I took care of all the stuff I went through so well that my parents called me whenever something went wrong in their lives. Then when my brother started having issues, they’d talk to me about and ask me to talk to him. They were really happy until my brother started having some issues. They’re such good parents. They may never know. I tell them as much as I can but they argue with me.
