On her eightieth birthday, Ethan showed up carrying a bouquet of yellow roses.
They cost twelve dollars.
Mom burst into tears.
Only later did I discover he’d used the very last of his money to buy them.
I couldn’t understand it.
« Ethan, why would you spend everything you had on flowers? »
He simply shrugged.
« Because she deserved something beautiful for her birthday. »
As the months passed, Mom became increasingly attached to him.
Then one Sunday afternoon, she made an announcement I never expected.
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