My sons had never been possessions.
Claire had never belonged to me.
Time could not be recovered because I finally regretted wasting it.
Forgiveness could not be purchased because I finally understood its value.
The only thing I could control was what I did next.
Nathan handed me his medal.
“Hold this.”
I stared at the gold disk.
“Why?”
“I need to fix my collar.”
I laughed.
Then Noah handed me his medal too.
“Hold mine.”
For ten seconds, I stood there holding both gold medals.
The same medals that had destroyed every lie in my life one year earlier.
They felt heavier now.
Not because they were gold.
Because I finally understood what they represented.
Years of mornings I had missed.
Homework I had never helped with.
