A Heart Full of Love

Alice snuggled deeper under her favorite quilt, the one with the tiny embroidered stars. The day had been a whirlwind of emotions, a dizzying ride from the prickly feeling of being forgotten to the warm glow of being understood. She closed her eyes, and for the first time in a long time, the space behind her eyelids wasn’t filled with images of Olivia receiving all the smiles and praise. Instead, she saw her mom’s face, not just her mom who was busy, but her mom who had spoken those quiet, powerful words.

It had happened after dinner, as the usual happy chaos of clearing plates and tidying up began. Alice had been watching, her heart still a little tight, as Olivia helped Mom stack dishes, a gentle smile on her face. Mom had leaned down and whispered something in Olivia’s ear, and Olivia had giggled, her eyes shining. That familiar pang, the one that whispered, *See? She loves Olivia more,* had started to prickle at Alice’s skin. But then she remembered the sound of Mom’s voice, later, when she thought Alice was already asleep, talking to Mary.

Mary had been folding laundry, her movements calm and steady, while Mom sat at the kitchen table, a cup of tea cooling beside her. Alice had been tucked into her bed, the door slightly ajar, pretending to be asleep, but her ears were always open, especially when Mom and Mary spoke. She’d heard Mom sigh, a soft, tired sound. “They’re all so wonderful, aren’t they?” Mom had said, her voice laced with a deep affection that Alice hadn’t truly heard before. “Each one, a little piece of my heart.”