THE PUBLIC SHELF
For the new baby
Welcome, little one. You took your time getting here, and I want you to know that everyone was waiting.
I'm your mom's best friend. You'll know me as the aunt who isn't technically your aunt, who brings the weird presents and lets you stay up too late. I've known your mom since we were eleven, and I need to tell you some things about her, because you're going to spend the next few years thinking she's just your mom, and she's so much more than that.
She painted your room twice because the first yellow was the wrong yellow. She cried in the paint aisle at the hardware store about it. I was there.
She read every book about babies ever written, highlighted all of them, and still called me at midnight to ask how you hold one.
She wanted you for a long, long time. Longer than you'll ever know. There were some hard years. I won't tell you about those, she can, someday, if she wants to. But I want you to know that you're not just loved. You were hoped for. That's different. That's bigger.
You're starting your life in a house full of people who would walk through fire for you.
That's a good place to start.
Your Aunt Priya, who is not technically your aunt
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