Chapter 3: Infinity Times the Universe

The One Who Leaves: A Memoir

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The next morning Mom was nowhere to be found. I called to tell her that I’d be taking her somewhere special for her birthday.

“We aren’t going to the ocean, are we?” she said.

I laughed. She made it sound like some kind of death sentence.

“You aren’t taking me camping or anything like that?” Her words quick and frantic. “You know I hate bugs. I can’t go anywhere where there’s going to be trees or water because of the bugs.”

“Mom, you’re going to love it. Trust me.”

She stopped her questioning and we said our goodbyes. But before a full minute went by, she called back. “Oh! Is it a UFC fight?” The hope in her voice told me she figured she’d guessed it.