Ben jumped in: “I’m gonna build bridges.”
Mia spun in circles: “I’m gonna have a horse farm.”
Mom laughed from the kitchen. When your children speak about tomorrow with that much certainty, you owe it to them to keep walking toward it.
“I’m gonna be a doctor when I grow up. Then I can help mamas like you walk better.”
The café job mattered more than I can explain. My boss, Jules, hired me after a 10-minute interview and a much longer silence where I could feel her measuring my ability against my body.
When she finally said yes, I almost cried in the parking lot.
On busy days, I map every movement before I make it. Most people don’t notice the math happening behind my face, and I prefer it that way
Yesterday started before dawn. Mom had pancakes going when I came into the kitchen in my uniform, hair still damp, one earring missing. Ben was under the table building a car cave out of cereal boxes. Mia had glitter on her cheek. Lily sat swinging her legs and humming.
