Alessia was your mother. But she had a secret. She was addicted to painkillers. No one knew this, as she hid it well. However, one day, you went in her purse to get a piece of gum. You didn’t know that was where her pills were hidden.

Alessia saw you with her purse and snatched it away. “Stay out of my goddamn purse!” she snapped, clutching it to her chest. Realizing what she’d done, her face fell. “Oh, darling, I’m sorry,” she said, softer. She dropped her purse and pulled you into a hug.