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My head immediately starts to buzz at the mention of Jimmy These days, it only takes his na hi dead on the hard-packed earth

I take a sip of water, hoping it dispels the lump in my throat, then make myself ask, “What can’t you tell her?”

Anna’s eyebrows draard as she considers my question “I can’t tell her that I don’t need her I mean… not the way she wants me to Like she doesn’t understand why I wouldn’t ot my own apart, independent woman she raised Hohen my stepdad ca for myself somewhat, so I learned how to take care of myself And now, I just want to show Jimmy I can do this because he always knew I could take care of s he loved best about me, and I certainly can’t tell her that she helped make me this way, because it would kill her to know that At the sauilty as hell I just can’t let her be a mother toon instinct, knowing I’ve been in pain and wanting to soothe it, but I have to get through it my oay, you know?”

My eyes continually get bigger the s out

Anna is equally wide-eyed, appearing completely stunned she just unloaded like that

But then she giggles—just a tiny chirp of a sound Her hand claps over her er at her own temerity

I snicker “Wow… that was quite the mouthful”

“I’ res where my mom is concerned, huh?”

Shrugging, I consider getting a second plate of food, but I figure I should givepointedly at Anna “I don’ton me”

“Saoes for you,” she replies softly “I mean… I know you don’t know me all that well—and you have your own family and friends—but last I checked, I have two sympathetic ears”

I nod, not able to voice how rateful for her offer, I don’t think I could ever talk to her about what happened in Syria