I was doing library with a class of 5th graders.
One of the girls starts telling me about the books that her mother reads; "love books", and the title of the current novel that her mother's reading.
"But she doesn't let me read them".
And then she looks at me with her big brown eyes wide and asks, "Do you read love books?"
And I looked her in the eye and said the proudest "No" I ever said in my life.
I am so happy and thankful to be able to answer such a question with a true, honest "No".
No one noticed, and she just continued her day. It was quiet in the library.
But when she left, I cried.
I cried from relief and from pride and from gratitude that I'm where I am today.
It feels so good to be clean. The days of darkness are behind me. Sometimes they creep up and poke their head out, but to have that girl ask me that, and to be able to give that answer - was a moment I don't think I'm ever going to forget.