be, it would be made from a position of strength and clarity rather than reaction and hurt.
That alone represented progress in my journey toward self-reclamation.
The airport reunion with my mother proceeded with her characteristic efficiency.
No dramatic embraces or excessive emotion—just a firm hug, practical questions about the drive, and immediate inquiries about my new home.
At eighty-three, Helen Carter remained remarkably self-sufficient, managing her rolling carry-on with determined independence despite my offers of assistance.
“You look better,” she pronounced as we walked to the parking area. “Less
