Unconditional Love

“Did you win, Mama?”

“No, baby, I didn’t.”

Quiet. No comments. No reaction.

“I’m sorry, honey, I didn’t win.”

No comment. No reaction. No nothing.

I say it again. “I’m sorry, honey, I didn’t pass. I didn’t do it. I lost.”

Again, no comment. No reaction.

I look in the backseat.

My Cynthia, my daughter. My miracle child born on September 12th.

She’s in the backseat looking at a piece of plastic she’s found on the floor.

“Did you hear me, honey?”

No response.

“Did you hear me?” I say again.

She looks up at me with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.

“I’m so glad you’re home,” she says.