Page 85 of Your Biggest Downfall
“You should be resting too, Aunt Mae,” Nova gently chided.
I watched the three of them together, the way they leaned on each other, trying to find some semblance of normalcy in the middle of all the pain. Nova’s smile warmed as she looked at me, inviting me to join them.
“We like to watchJeopardy,” she said softly.
Cecilia chuckled, her voice thin. “You better be good.”
I laughed, settling next to Nova, my hand resting gently on the small of her back. “I think I’ve got sports covered.”
“Aha!” Mae shouted with a grin from the chair beside us. “The missing piece we needed.”
And like that, I was a part of their small, fragile world.
35
austin
We had spent hours in that small, warm living room, shouting answers at the television asJeopardyplayed on repeat. The air was filled with our laughter, our competitive banter, the playful jabs at missed questions, and triumphant cheers when we got them right. Nova and I were slowly inching closer to each other on the couch, the space between us shrinking with each passing round.
Cecilia didn’t join in much. She watched us with a soft smile, her eyes full of warmth and a deep, quiet happiness. It was as if she was soaking in the sight of her daughter finding a moment of joy and normalcy.
In the middle of one of the episodes, Cecilia reached for the remote and paused the show.
“Mami,” Nova said in protest, her voice rising in surprise, “it was just getting to the good part.”
But Cecilia wasn’t looking at the television. Her eyes were on us, filled with a mixture of love and something more, something bittersweet.
She turned to Nova, her voice soft yet firm. “You two,” Cecilia began, her voice carrying the weight of all the things she had seen and felt, “are the good part.”
The room fell into a gentle silence, the kind that spoke louder than any words could. Nova looked at her mom, her eyes wide and glistening, understanding the unspoken message. This wasn’t about the game or the show—it was about the moments we were creating, the memories we were building together for the time Cecilia had here.
“Stop,” Nova whispered, wiping at her cheeks. “Let’s put on the show.”
But no one dared to move. Everyone sat there, including me, while Cecilia stared at us. Out of pure instinct and the need to protect Nova, I wrapped my arm around her waist.
Nova didn’t stiffen at my touch. In fact, she put her hand around mine and pulled me closer to her. She looked up at me, glassy eyes and all, before looking back at her mom, who had tears rolling down her cheeks.
“You worked it out?” Cecilia asked.
Nova nodded.
“Good. I told you, mija, he’s one of the good ones. I can see it.”
I cleared my throat. “I’m not, Ms. Thatcher. I’m as flawed as anyone else out there, but I love your daughter with everything in me. I...” I hesitated, then leaned down and kissed Nova on her curls. “I’ve been in love with Nova for a year.”
Cecilia barked out a laugh. “She was too stubborn to see it.”
I shook my head. “No. I was the stubborn one. I was scared I was going to drag her down.”
Cecilia held up a hand. “I don’t need to hear your story.” She pulled at one of the wires coming from her nose. “Look at me?—”
“You look beautiful, Mami,” Nova said quietly.
I wrapped my other hand around Nova so she was fully in my embrace.
“No,” Cecilia scoffed. “I’m old and I have terminal cancer.”
“Cecilia,” Mae said in a scolding tone.
