Of course he did.
We all were.
He stood near the cave entrance.
“Rebecca.”
“Samuel.”
He looked at me for a long time.
Then hugged me.
I stiffened.
Then hugged him back.
It lasted only seconds.
But I cried afterward.
“I’m sorry.”
He said it first.
“For what?”
“Not visiting.”
I looked at him.
“Why didn’t you?”
He rubbed his face.
“Mom made everything complicated.”
“You were thirty.”
“I know.”
“That’s not an answer.”
He nodded.
“You’re right.”
We sat.
I made coffee on the small stove.
Samuel looked around.
“You really sleep here?”
“Yes.”
“That’s insane.”
“It’s dry.”
“Rebecca.”
“I had nowhere else.”
His face changed.
“Mom said you were staying in transitional housing.”
“She lied.”
He looked sick.
“She said you refused help.”
“Nobody offered.”
Samuel stared at the ground.
Then said.
“You could stay with me.”
The offer came late.
But it came.
