Chapter 40 - the name on the wall
At the pavilion's fifth anniversary, the board announced a surprise.
Claire's name had been placed on a large marble wall.
The Claire Sterling Maternal Health Pavilion.
Claire stared at it.
"I don't like this."
Maya laughed.
"It's already there."
Claire looked at her father.
He was smiling.
"You knew?"
"I helped choose the stone."
Claire shook her head.
"This was supposed to be about mothers."
"It is."
"Then why put my name here?"
Her father answered quietly.
"Because sometimes people need to remember who believed it was possible."
Claire touched the marble.
She didn't feel proud.
She felt humbled.
Later that evening, Chloe stood beside her.
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"Do you like it?"
Claire smiled.
"Not really."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want people to remember me."
Chloe looked at the wall.
"Then what do you want them to remember?"
Claire looked at the maternity ward.
"The reason."
"What reason?"
Claire smiled.
"That no mother should ever feel invisible."
Chloe nodded.
"I'll remember that."
Claire looked at her daughter.
May you like
"Good."
That was enough.
