D'Aisha Tolbert

The Brother I Never Knew

“Sorry for your loss,” a man says to me as he walks pass the casket. My mother must have been a well-known individual in this community. Everyone for the pass hour has been telling me how much of a good woman she was. I wouldn’t know. According to my foster mom, Elizabeth, my mother gave me up for adoption when I was one years old. I only came to the funeral to see what she looked like. For years, I’ve had mixed feelings about her. On one hand, she gave me up and never checked on me. I’d hope she would want to see how I’ve turned out. I’m 21 and about to graduate to be a delivery labor nurse. I worked hard to get where I am now with the help of Elizabeth. A part of me is happy she did give me up though because I would not have met Elizabeth. She has been the best mother I could have ever asked for. This funeral is my way to express my anger with the woman would did not want me. I will say my piece then get on with my life.