Lark&Sky

'You know, Son, I used to lie awake at night and worry. I would toss, and have my head spinnin', all because I never really told you how to be in this life. There are so many bad things, son, so many. I know you're old enough to hold your own. You're a good man, too.  But I never truly told you.
When things get real bad, worse, hold on tight to what you know to be true. Hold on like so.' She gripped his hands in hers with all of her strength.
'You're leavin now, and that's all fine. I look at you and I'm so proud. Son, I am so proud.' Her eyes welled up.
'But there are things you don't know now, and things you may have to go through the very fires of hell to learn, all because I never did tell you. '

She let go and turned away. Shaking her head slowly, she leaned against the kitchen counter, and stared into the field out the window.

'Your father would have been the one who told you, and I was angry I suppose. He shoulda been there, son. He coulda been the one all along. But the Lord had to go and take him away from us. I don't know what I hold as truth no more. The Lord took him.
'Son, it's a bad world. I just wish I had told you in the first place.'

Her son said nothing, he just stood and watched her, with nothing but a broken heart and strong arms to offer her. He walked to her and held her close.

'Ma,' he said, and she wept in his arms.