When I Was Four, My Mother Left Me Alone in a Church—Twenty Years Later She Returned Crying, “We Need You”
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Chapter 3 / 34
Chapter 3 - SHE DID NOT PROMISE FOREVER
That may have been why I trusted her.
Florence did not say:
“I’ll never leave you.”
Adults had already taught me promises could become dangerous.
Instead she said:
“Breakfast is at seven.”
And breakfast appeared at seven.
She said:
“I’ll pick you up from school.”
She did.
She said:
“I have choir practice until eight, so Mrs.
Reynolds will stay with you.”
Mrs.
Reynolds arrived at six fifty-five.
Consistency.
That was Florence’s language of love.
May you like
Not grand declarations.
Predictability.
