“Can I hug you?” My voice breaks again. She’s already wrapping her bony arms around my frame. “I want to hug you. I’ve been waiting for this moment.” Her hugs are magical, and I hold tighter around my mom, burying my face against her hair. Tears leak out of my eyes, but I hear her sniffling too. I don’t want to let her go, and I feel that she’s not ready to let me go either. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she whispers shakily. “I’msogladyou’reokay.” I breathe deeply, wrapped inside my mom’s love, and I’m equally just so glad she’s okay. After what feels like an eon, we pull apart, and we wipe our
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