When He’d Show Up

My mom isn't who I thought she was. When I told my mom I had a new boyfriend, she didn’t react

the way most moms do. She didn’t ask his name. She didn’t ask what

he looked like. She didn’t ask how we met. She just nodded slowly and said,

“Good. I was wondering when he’d show up.” I laughed, because it sounded

like a joke. But she didn’t laugh back. My mom has always believed she can

sense patterns in people. She calls it intuition. Growing up, she used to say

things like “Some lives repeat themselves” or “Not everyone is new.” I learned to tune it out.