Would You Love Me If . . . ?

Mother had seen the vultures outside and feared that they would steal Papa away from us. I hugged her tightly, and we sobbed together. Mother shook like a leaf as we cried. She was afraid, very afraid. Then, she blessed me: "You will not experience this. Your husband will not do this evil to you" If I had known then what I know now, I would have asked her, "Mother dear, can you make him your husband? Can you spend some time with him? I would have said, "Don't leave him alone. Stay with him while we stay with the dogs. They all need our love and protection, men and dogs"