“You were asking me to protect everyone else from knowing I was sad.

Strength would have been letting me tell the truth without making me responsible for your discomfort.”

Mom’s eyes filled.

“I didn’t know you felt that alone.”

For once, I did not rush to make the tears go away.

I allowed her to sit with the possibility that she had missed something important about her younger daughter.

“I’ve spent a long time believing Vanessa needs us more,” Mom said at last.

“She’s always been the one who falls apart.