She Walked Away
When Ethan Lane came back from his business trip, he pulled two dolls out of his suitcase. One was pink, the other blue.
His daughter, Nina Lane's eyes lit up for a second when she saw the pink one. But instead of reaching for it, she glanced over at Crystal Shaw, Vivian Shaw's daughter. That five-year-old girl had already stretched out her hand for the pink doll.
So Nina pulled her hand back and said quietly, "I'll take the blue one."
I froze.
Nina's loved pink ever since she was little. Her backpack is pink, her water bottle is pink, even her hair clips are always pink. But the moment Crystal was in the picture, she stepped aside.
Later, when Ethan drove Vivian and Crystal home, I asked Nina why she chose blue.
She looked up at me timidly and said, "If I give up what I like, just like Mommy does, will Daddy come home more?"
My throat tightened.
I've given in so many times over the years. But looking at my daughter right now, I suddenly realized—I don't want to hold back anymore.