I Promised My Son Forever—Then Cancer Made Me Count the Months

the “priest.”

I laugh so hard I have to sit down, because sometimes joy is physical and my body is not built for it anymore.

Leo grabs my hands and pulls me up.

“Dance, Momma!” he commands.

The wedding promise again.

The lie waiting.

I swallow it down and dance anyway.

We sway awkwardly in the living room, Leo stepping on my feet, giggling, singing nonsense.continue reading …