Feelings of anxiousness and acceptance coursed through me, feelings I had been missing for quite some time, yet I remained silent, intrusive thoughts reasoning why I should even reply to her, but then I heard them. I heard my mother's erratic breathing, her quiet sobbing, and the jittering of her body.

  At that moment I understood she needed me, maybe even more than I needed her, so I answered her question.

  "Mom"

  "Y-Yes, it's okay. I understand, see..."

  "I'll wait, but don't be te. The gate closes in 10 minutes, ok?"

  "Great, I'll be there in five. Thanks."

  After I made sure she hung up the phone, waves of rexation and comfort struck me. I had never heard her like this before.

  The closest she ever got to sobbing within earshot of anyone —according to Till— was during the great cult purge that happened three hours before I was born. Till said Dad has a video of when she suddenly received the news that Auntie Helen died.

  However, ever since then, she stopped and never cried in front of us, but to hear that same mom cry for my safety made me understand that she does love me in her own way, and so I put my phone back in the pocket I withdrew it from and walked towards the school gate, hoping my trust isn't broken.

  again.

  [CONTINUE]