The Moment I Knew True Pain.

His eyes. He watched with a face that almost broadcasts his memories to the world: The moment she chewed him out for not sharing with his little brother. The moment she held him as he wretched into the toilet. The moment she told him that she loved him. The moment he found her--lifeless.

She was a second mom to me. She would take us to the store and buy me a toy cause she knew my parents couldn’t afford it. She was the mom who volunteered to take all her son’s friends to the movies every week. She was a second mom to all of us, always encouraging us in our many interests. She was the best of course to her two boys and little daughter.

She died a few months before her eldest son’s friend was to be married and he was to be his best man. He delivered an amazing speech that didn’t leave a dry eye except for his own. Everyone could feel her absence, no one was more aware than him.

The Mother-Son dance. He had to watch his best friend dance with what he felt like he'd taken for granted. His eyes were the moment I knew true pain.