“Okay,” I said slowly, unsure of where this was headed. “What do you have in mind?”
<pHe hesitated, stealing a glance at Mason, who nodded with encouragement. “Well, we’ve been thinking a lot about life after high school. I mean, it’s a big change, and we want to make sure you understand everything.” His voice was steady, but I could see the fear simmering just beneath the surface, like a wave about to break.
<p“I’m listening,” I said, my heart pounding in my chest. Their high school graduation felt monumental, but I hadn’t anticipated that this moment would be tied so tightly to their plans, their dreams merging with what I had envisioned for them.
“We’re going to move away,” Mason said, his voice firm but tinged with hesitation. “We’ve been accepted to a college in California, and we want to go together.”
<pA rush of emotions flooded through me—pride crashed against a tidal wave of sadness. “California?” I repeated, almost incredulous. “You’re both going so far away?”
<p“It’s a great school, Aunt Lucy. We want to explore new opportunities.” Noah’s words were laced with excitement, but beneath that, I could hear the tremor of uncertainty. “We’ll always carry a piece of home with us—”
But suddenly, those words felt like knives slicing through the air. They spoke of freedom and growth, yet they also spoke of loss. The thought of them not being nearby, of them embarking on a new adventure without me, struck me more profoundly than I could prepare for.
<p“I raised you two, and now you want to leave?” I blurted out. My voice trembled, caught between anger and heartache. “What about everything we built together? Don’t you think I deserve to know that my boys are staying close?”
