blondexhurricane:

“Ugh, why did you have to go and get all sappy on me?
I hate it when you do that, you know,” Delia half lied, a
knowing grin tugging at the corners of her lips. The two
had always been close, and growing up, she’d enjoyed
it. It was the Altman girls against the world, and just as
long as they had each other, there wasn’t anything they
couldn’t overcome, no matter the size.

Things were different now, though. Delia was all grown
up, and it was time to finally let go and break free. She
needed to be out on her own and experience things for
herself. “If I don’t get hurt, I won’t learn how to heal and
become a stronger person the next time. Besides, you
have to trust in yourself that you raised me to be brave
and independent, because that’s exactly what you did.”

“Who’s being sappy?”  Teddy smiled,  but her eyes hinted
at tears to come. All  of  Delia’s childhood, the many tears
Teddy had shed were saved for the longest nights  —  the
will it took to keep them at bay was a practiced one. From
the first moment that Teddy held Delia in her arms, she’d
sworn to herself that she’d never let her daughter know her 
pain;  now,  it  was time to put down her efforts and let live
the dreams that deserved it.

“You’ll always have a home with me  —  you  know  that,
right?” Teddy sighed wistfully. “I’m  sure  you won’t miss
me too much, but just in case you do… I’ll be here. Now,
come and give your mother a kiss because you’re about
to make her cry.”