Page 35 of Choke

Sorrow because she isn’t here to see how happy and free her children are.

Two powerful hands wrap around my waist and spin me around. “What is that pretty head of yours thinking about?”

I smile at Callum, placing my head on his chest. “My mom. I wish she were here to see all this.”

The loudspeaker crackles and Atlas speaks into a microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention?”

Everyone in the room stops and turns to him. I smile at the small group of misfits that I love more than anything.

My sister, Azadeh, with her husbands, Zeke, Cyrus, and Lev. Their children run around like maniacs under our feet.

My brother, Dariyus, with his family, Briar, Ezra, Malichi, and his two little ones, who are as jubilant as their cousins.

My best friend, Ari, smiling brightly beside the tall guy who gives off somewhat scary vibes.

And then my two men, Callum and Atlas, the loves of my life, beaming with all the love in the world as they gaze at me.

“Mona, our beautiful wife, the light in our darkness, the beat of our life,” Atlas says.

“Stop being cheesy and get to it,” Cyrus yells, and a few people chuckle.

“As I was saying,” Atlas continues, “Mona, you mean everything to Callum and me. I hope you know that there is nothing we wouldn’t do for you, but unfortunately, some things aren’t in the realm of possibility. We know what you want most in the world on your wedding day is to have your mother here with us. Since we couldn’t do that, we made you this.”

Atlas steps off the stage and walks toward me as the lights dim and the screen lights up with my mother’s image. She’s in her hospital bed, frail and weak, not the warrior I knew her to be.

“Mona,azizam.I’m so sorry I can’t be there with you when you graduate, on your wedding day, or when you make me a grandmother. But I want you to know that my heart is with you even though my body isn’t. I’m looking down on you,joonham.Dooset daram doktaram.Love you, my darling daughter, and I’m so proud of you.”

I don’t realize I’m crying until Callum gently wipes the tears from my cheeks. “We thought that would make you happy, Kitten.”

“It does,” I whisper, “but it also makes me sad. She would’ve loved you two. She would’ve loved having all these grandkids running under her feet. I miss her so much.”

I gaze at my two men, my heart so full of love for them. They aren’t perfect. Some might call them monsters, but they’re my everything. “I love you two so damn much.”

Atlas pulls me to him, kissing the top of my head. “We love you, too, wife.”

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