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I obeyed, silently berating myself for my stupidity I couldn’t understand why she’d be upset on ical She’d only met Blake once for a few minutes, and I’d purposely never spoken about him afterward

“Mother, I was hoping you could offer impartial advice That’s what professionals do, correct? I didn’t intend to upset you, and I don’t knohere I can buy flowers on a Sunday at such short notice to h, Whole Foods has a nice selection Maybe I can—”

“No”

I started at her sharp tone “Okay…”

“Asher, look at me And please listen”

“I’”

“I don’t need flowers I don’t need you to do chores for me I don’t need you to send me chocolates or tidy my bookshelves I don’t need you to be super human or perfect” Her voice quivered ominously “I just need you to be happy That’s all”

I furrowed ht now, but I’uarantee that tomorrow—”

“That’s the point” She gathered her skirts around her and sat cross-legged on the floor at uaranteed You have to live for today…every day, Ash And I do o of your rules, write a new script for each day of the week if you want But happiness has to be your nuoal”

I fumbled with my cell “Got it I’ll write that down”

She pulled my phone from my hand and shook her head “No, don’t take notes Just listen”

“I’,” I repeated

“No one is perfect, Ash No one That’s okay It’s okay to feel down and sad sory, or disillusioned It’s okay to acknowledge that life is really damn hard sometimes”

“Yes,” I agreed with a heavy sigh

She nodded “You have a right to your feelings You don’t have to hide the to s that happened…so o”

“I know,” I whispered,to the silver frame on the coffee table I bit the inside of my lips “So…what should we do? Now I’m sad and you’re sad that I’m sad Hoe fix this?”

“We don’t” Mom reached up to push my hair from my forehead “We stay in the moment, do our best, and trust that it will all work out”

“That’s it?”

“Yes That’s it”

“I don’t like that advice,” I grumbled “No offense, but it really doesn’t sound like professional counsel”

She grinned “I’m your mom first, Ash I can’t be professional or impartial because I love you In fact, I love you more than there are stars in the universe”