“Where is he?” I asked, ignoring the sting of his words.
Tom nodded toward a back room. “Go see for yourself.”
On the other side, Jason bent over an examination table, gently examining a scruffy dog while speaking softly to a tearful woman.
“Mom?” he said, noticing me. His voice held equal parts surprise and fear.
I didn’t speak at first, the lump in my throat too heavy.
Finally, I managed, “You did this?”
Jason nodded slowly. “Yeah. I did.”
His confidence wavered as he spoke.
“I know I hurt you. I know I lied, but—”
“Jason,” I interrupted, my voice breaking. “I was wrong.”
He blinked.
I took a shaky step forward.
“This is your calling. It’s everything you said it was. And I couldn’t see it.
I tried to control you, to make you into someone you weren’t, but…” My voice cracked. “You’ve built something beautiful. Something that saves lives.
I’m so proud of you.”
Jason’s eyes glistened as he stepped toward me. “That means everything, Mom.”
Behind us, Tom’s voice rang out, amused but warm. “Look at that.
Turns out we were right all along.”
I turned back to Jason, my heart finally at peace.
“Promise me one thing,” I said.
“Anything,” he replied.
“Don’t ever stop being this person.”
Do you have any opinions on this?
