Page 182 of Unspoken Words
“Yeah. I just need a minute.”
“How ‘bout we give you a few?” Roger squeezed my shoulder. “Come on, Beth. Let’s get a coffee. And, Chris, I’m sure you can find a nurse to talk to.”
“I’m sure I can, and will.”
Beth stopped by the door. “Can we get you anything?”
I shook my head. “No. Apart from Maxey, I have everything I need right here in this room.”
She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Okay. We’ll be about if you need us.”
Once the door closed behind her, I took a deep breath, returned to my seat, and opened the notebook to the next page.
Lesson One
You can’t measure a lifetime because you never know its end.
Be strong.
Love.
Give voice to what beckons within.
Use the time you’re given wisely.
Don’t waste it on thoughts you’ll never speak.
Lesson Two
Be you and only you.
Don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re not pretty enough, smart enough
… that you’re not enough.
You are. You’re more than enough. Always.
Lesson Three
Mums and daughters share a special bond; it’s called being a woman. It’s scary, and I’m sorry about that. But being a woman is also a gift, a privilege, so always treat it as such. Never see it as a handicap or dead end, no matter what bullshit society feeds you. When that brick wall is placed before you, smash it down. When you set off five or ten paces behind your male counterparts, take the biggest leaps you can, and do it in heels and with a smile just to show off.
At many points in your life, you’ll be taught by those who are afraid of women that women are much less than they really are. Don’t believe them. Being a woman is powerful. Use that power; don’t waste it.
Now, I want to talk about your father for a second. Granted, I could talk about him all day, because he is the most amazing person I know. Talented. Empathetic. Determined. He’s been the air I breathe for as long as I can remember.
Your father loves with every fibre of his being, but he might never tell you that. And that’s okay. He doesn’t need to because he shows it with every breath he takes.
What’s important isn’t finding someone who says, ‘I love you’. It’s finding out if they truly mean it.
Okay, so because I’m not there with you both, I’ll need you to do a few things for me. Some special Mummy/Daughter promises.
Promise one: Make sure Daddy plays his guitar every day, even if he says he doesn’t want to. Make him sing ‘My Girls’ or ‘Ever After’. He will if you ask him to.
Promise two: One ofthe first things I noticed about your father was his dimples. They popped like popcorn every time he smiled. Do Mummy a favour and poke them every night when he tucks you into bed. We must never let them fade.
Promise three: Don’t let your father have too many sugars in his coffee. No more than two. Two is plenty.
Promise four: Order a Meatlovers pizza every Friday night.
