First extract...

I chose this part by closing my eyes, strolling down the document and wherever I stopped I picked a part that would make sense when read on its own. Enjoy!

Me: “Why?”

Aunt: “Why! Because, I’m supposed to be taking care of you. I’m here to be the adult, the guardian. You’ve barely returned, and suddenly, this. May, I don’t even know what to say.”

I thought she could try ‘Congratulations’, but I said: “Why are you my guardian?”

Aunt: “Because your mother asked me. I’ve disappointed her in life, I can not disappoint her in death.”

Me: “When did you disappoint her?”

Aunt: “You know.” There was silence and I honestly tried to think; it wasn’t like me to forget anything, let alone something so big. “When you were born?”

Me: “Please don’t! We’ve been through that a million times. It wasn’t your fault…”

Aunt: “I know all the things you’ll say; I’ve heard them before. But the simple truth is: I shouldn’t have left her side. It was my fault… Anyway, that’s besides the point now…”

Me: “No, that is always the point. It will always be the point until you forgive yourself. Why won’t you just forgive yourself? It was outside your control.”

Aunt: “Leaving her at a time like that was very much in my control.”

Me: “You left her only to have a shower and rest; the snowfall was not your fault, you could not have seen that. And if it wasn’t for the snow you would have been back in that hospital with time to spear. You tried so hard to be by her side, you almost killed yourself; do you understand what that means?”

Aunt: “That shower wasn’t a necessity and the rest… My sister raised me. She was my mother and my father. She never asked for so much as a ‘thank you’, except that one time, once, when she was so nervous, she just asked that I sit by her so that if something happens to her, her newborn will have a blood relative…”

Me: “Nothing happened to her and she was there to hold me when I came out into the world; so that part is fine…”

Aunt: “Forget it!”

Me: “No! I will not forget it. I will forget it only when you forgive yourself. My mother was always so very proud of you. She was always grateful to have you. I know she died in peace because she knew I’ll always have you.”

My aunt began to cry: “And do you think I’m doing her justice?”

Me: “Absolutely!”

Aunt: “Hmm…”

Me: “Do you think she could do more than you’re doing? No! Exactly. I wish you didn’t worry, but worry is all you can do. That’s all she could ever do. And you are doing that very well, she’d be ever so proud.” I wanted to lighten the mood and it seemed to work.

Aunt (smiled): “I just don’t know!”

Me: “Neither do I. But aren’t you at least a little excited to see how this plays out?”