Telling

By Marcia Yudkin

We sat at adjacent corners of a table at Legal Seafoods. No one else within earshot. She pulled my copy of Edith Wharton’s The Mother’s Recompense from her bag. “I loved it,” she said, undoubtedly pleased about our mother-daughter book discussion.

“Especially the scene where the priest advises not to hurt her daughter over things in the past that can’t be changed,” my mother offered. “Why cause suffering with no redeeming purpose?” Not the commentary I had hoped.

I will tell her anyway. The block of stone between us will move—somehow.

I will tell.

I will tell.

I did not.