I tugged the zipper of my jacket up higher as a cold wind blew in off San Francisco Bay, and fought the urge to turn and ran back to the marina. I won’t run. This was something that had to be done, for me.
Maggie squeezed my hand, curling into my arm, and we began to walk into the small cemetery where my mom was buried.
I felt sick. Emotion stronger than I had felt in a long time swirled around my whole body, from hatred to pity, fear to anger, yet through it all … Through it all was a bit of love for the woman that tried and failed to give me life.
We weaved silently through the graves and markers, heading to the back of the cemetery. I held the white rose I bought tightly, clutching it to my chest, and tried to breathe deeply.
I would never forgive her and I would never forget her, but I could finally be at peace with her.
The small, black marble headstone sat alongside my
