My daughter convinced me to go on vacation to the seaside: “All inclusive, Mom, you won’t have to do a thing.” I paid for the tickets myself. Upon arrival, I discovered I’d be staying with my grandchildren, while she and my son-in-law would be in a different building.

 

“Without their help, we wouldn’t have been able to make this journey,” Anna replied quietly.

 

There was silence.

 

I thought they would change the subject, but David spoke again.

 

“We came here to save our marriage, but we can’t even talk. We spend all our time lying around with headphones on. You’re constantly checking on the kids, and I can’t stop thinking about the bills. Your mother takes care of everything else.”

 

Anna didn’t say anything.

 

“I didn’t want her to spend Christmas like this,” he added after a moment. “But even we don’t know how to fix this.”

I didn’t want to listen anymore.

 

I returned to the stage with two glasses of water. My hands were shaking so badly that I spilled half the water on my sandals.

 

Sofia saw me and waved at me from the stage, so I waved back with a smile, because that was what I did best.