Slowly, I wrapped my arms around her.
For several moments neither of us spoke. My mother continued holding onto me as though she was afraid that the moment she let go, I would disappear again. Years of separation, uncertainty, and grief had been compressed into a single embrace, and I could feel every bit of it in the way her hands refused to loosen their grip.
Then a thought finally occurred to me.
A very important thought.
"Mom."
She didn't answer immediately. I felt her shake her head against my shoulder.
"No."
The response confused me.
I pulled back slightly.
"No?"
"You don't get to say anything yet."
Fresh tears escaped despite her attempt to stop them.
"I have spent years wondering what happened to you."
The guilt in her eyes made my chest tighten.
"You should have had a life, Billion."
I glanced toward Julius.
My father looked no better. The relief of seeing me had been completely overshadowed by the belief that I had somehow died and arrived here after them.
