Olive

by Emma Gannon

“Just remember, when you get to my age, you never remember the little

things that used to worry you or keep you up at night. You mostly look back fondly on the good times—they become clearer in your mind,” she says, watering some poppies. “Thanks, Dorothy. You’re right.” I pause for a moment. “What about the big stuff, though? The big things that keep you up at night?” Jacob, motherhood dilemmas. Hardly small, silly things. “Well, you must remember that no decision is ever really the wrong decision. Because it’s the decision you made at the time. Respect your past self and her choices,” she says, looking me directly in the eye.