What I’m certain of, for the first time since everything fell apart, is that I’ll be happy. Truly happy. Because the lines on these women’s faces are not all from tears. They have smiled, and they still do. After loss. After hardship. Alice is an oak. Because of the love in her life, but the loss in it as well. It isn’t an easy thing; it isn’t a simple thing. It is only doing the very hardest work, it is only being willing to take the next step forward when you cannot see where it’s taking you. It’s letting your face smile again so it can make new lines that are forged by happiness and not
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