Chapter 31: Awakening

Jasmine

“What happened?” Jasmine held her mother’s hand, listening. This was the first she was hearing this. For the first time in her life, her mother was starting to seem like a real person.

Hannah shrugged, giving her a small smile. “We wanted to get married, but my parents forbade it. So, I kissed him goodbye and never saw him again. Then I met your father at my father’s Club. I had a feeling my parents had arranged it, but I went along with it anyway, no longer having the strength to fight them.”

“So, you didn’t love Dad.”

Hannah shook her head. “Not at first. But love grew over time. Now, I love him very much.” She let out a deep breath, her smile fading. “But a part of me sometimes wonders what life would have been like if I would have married that boy... Paul was his name.” Then her smile returned as she patted Jasmine’s hand. “But then, I wouldn’t have had you.”

“Mom, I didn’t know.” Jasmine’s heart ached for her mother, knowing that was probably why she was the way she was n