Eleven months? Long time no see, alerters. No promises about the timing of another update.

To my dear mother, Evelyn:

When was the last time I called you mum? It must have been before you took me to America the first time. I changed so much here. Too much, I am afraid. I grew up, as some call it. I never listened to your words when you told me there were three kinds of growing up. Three. The literal, the physical kind. Children grow taller, older, and they grow up. The mental kind. Foolish children learn many things, become wiser and more mature, and they grow up. And lastly, the worldly kind. The bonny child becomes a pretty girl, begins to concentrate on beaus and beauty and gossip, begins to think she can do as she likes without advice, and she "grows up." And I chose the third path, the worst path. It was a hard lesson, taught by grief and pain, but I have learned at last. I will never again make the mistake of not heeding when wiser minds give good advice. I am sorry for ignoring you, Mum. Please forgive me.