It was summer

I had no words

Stripped of my constitutional right

I called my mother 

In search of an anchor

I could have never predicted

The story she would share

The weight she carried

From her choice decades ago

“It was the best decision I ever made”

“It made me a better mother to you”

“I have no regrets”

We cried

We connected

Our bond grew closer than ever before

My perception of my mother grew

She was also once just a girl. 

It was fall

Home felt different now

Although I left the state my heart remained

Beating for the rights of a past version of myself

Today was the day

I refreshed the page

47, 48, 49, 50

All the way to 57

The vote was final

We were so close

I stared in disbelief at the result

Although I am safe

My sisters are not

Despite our cries

Despite our march

Despite our screams

We went back in time.

It was done

I called

Uncertain of what I would hear her say

She danced around the topic

Seemingly embarrassed to speak her truth

Eventually, she confessed:

“I voted no”

How could you forget

How could you reject

How could you contribute to this mess

Struggling to find the words

I told her I loved her

Her dissonance shook me

But I am still here

We are still screaming

Because whether she is with me or not

I am fighting for her too.