Not Even the King

Seth picked us up in his fine car and drove us across the Coastal Range, where the snow was piled taller than Manko, to Cannon Beach. It was Manko's first time to see the Pacific. We arrived just at magic hour, sun spilling gold all over the bronze beach. On the way we listened to Alicia Keyes' new song, Not Even the King, which continues the theme of the haves and the have-nots. 

It's a love song. But I was singing along with Alicia, for a different kind of love.

Manko leaves tomorrow. She and Bella have bonded beautifully. Watching them run on the beach, watching Seth beam at his daughter and his little sister, watching the love play out, love that will carry on and spill its gold long after I'm gone, all I could do was hum that song in gratitude. I love what we got.