Chapter 14
Victor apologized to Mia first.
Strange choice.
Maybe because eight-year-olds are harder to perform for.
She sat eating strawberries.
He approached slowly.
“I laughed when Nolan pushed you.”
“Yes.”
“I shouldn’t have.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
She considered.
Then:
“Did Grandma Celia like strawberries?”
Victor froze.
Where had that come from?
Children.
He nodded.
“Very much.”
“Mom says she did lots of work.”
Silence.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
There.
An eight-year-old found the center.
Victor’s eyes filled.
“Because I was proud.”
Mia ate another strawberry.
“Proud of her?”
“No.”
Then corrected:
“I was proud of myself in the wrong way.”
Good enough.
Mia handed him a strawberry.
Forgiveness by fruit.
May you like
Temporary.
Human.
