barely recognizable anymore.
Mom had saved every piece.
Melissa looked at the pages for a long time.
Then her eyes moved toward the twenty-dollar bill still sticking out of yesterday’s birthday card.
“I understand.”
Mom sat beside her.
Melissa shook her head.
“No. I really understand.”
Then she looked at me.
“I didn’t want you finding those financial records because I knew what you would think.”
“What?”
“That everything I have happened because Mom paid for it.”
“I don’t think that.”
“I thought you would.”
Her voice became quieter.
“Every
