“I’d love to talk to you about everything I learn,” their mom said.
“I want to help people.”
With your mouth? Elle thought. You’d have better luck being a drill sergeant in the Marines.
“So tell me how school is going for you both.” Their mom flushed. “I’m afraid I haven’t been asking about it enough. I’m afraid I haven’t… been present enough. But that’s all going to change from here on out.”
There was a pause. And then Terrie dropped her fork loudly on her plate and launched herself at their mother. Anna Sophia embraced the girl, and then settled her in her lap. As she stroked Terrie’s back and murmured things that were too soft to hear, Elle looked out the window.
The blinds were pulled up, the view one of the parking lot and the shallow ring of trees behind the building.
Confusion warred with a treacherous hope as Elle breathed deep and smelled anew the dinner that had been made specially for her and her sister.
And that was when she saw the tow truck.
It was red and white, the name “Murphy’s” written on the driver-side door. As she stared at it, a memory trembled underneath the surface of her consciousness, something that—
From out of nowhere, a headache lit off, and Elle frowned and rubbed her temples.
She had the strangest sense that she had seen the truck before, that it had done something for her, that the night she had taken her father’s car without permission, a tow guy had—
“Are you okay?” her mother asked over Terrie’s head.
Elle came back to the present. As she focused on what was on her plate, the pounding ache in her skull immediately let up.
“Yes, I’m fine. I just… I’m good. Just really hungry.”
She glanced out at the parking lot again. The tow truck was gone.
What did it matter, she thought. She had other things to worry about.
“Are you okay?” she asked her mom. “I mean, are you… really okay here?”
The smile that hit her mom’s face was sad and slow. But the answer that came back was strong and steady. “I am very okay. I have you two. And that’s all I need going forward.”
Elle felt her eyes water. “I’ve missed you.”
Their mom leaned forward and put her hand on Elle’s. “I’m missed you, too. And I’m not leaving you ever again, okay? I’m sorry about where I went, but I’m back now.”
In a child’s voice, Elle whispered, “What… what made you return.”
Their mom squeezed Elle’s palm. “Only the most powerful thing in all the world.”
“What’s that?”
“Love.” Their mom smiled deeply. “What else could it be?”
Elle blinked quickly. Then she took a deep breath, filled up her fork, and took a bite. As the familiar taste bloomed in her mouth, and her mother continued to stare into her eyes with the kind of levelness that had previously been a hallmark… Elle found herself nodding.
“Love and lasagna,” she agreed. “Are everything.”
If you, or anybody you know, is suffering from suicidal thoughts, or if you have been affected by suicide and need help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at
1-800-273-TALK(8255).
Learn about the warning signs, prevention, and other resources here: www.sprc.org