“Thank you.”
“You should.”
“No.”
He looked up.
“Why?”
“Because this is mine.”
I gestured toward the cave.
“The hill.”
“The trees.”
“All of it.”
“I need to understand what that feels like.”
Samuel nodded slowly.
Then he told me something.
My mother had not sold the old house because she needed money.
She sold it because she wanted to move closer to Lily’s school.
She bought a newer home.
My brothers had both received financial help from the sale.
Samuel received twenty-five thousand dollars.
Our younger brother, Mark, received the same.
I received nothing.
Samuel looked ashamed.
“I thought your share went into an account.”
“What account?”
“Mom said she was saving it until release.”
My chest tightened.
“Did she?”
“I don’t know.”
We found out later.
She had not.
There had been no account.
No share.
My mother had simply divided the money between herself and my brothers.
