“Daniel was fourteen when he started copying me. Back then, I smoked constantly. Inside the house, in the car, even at the dinner table. One day, I caught him holding a cigarette. I got angry, but he said something I’ve never forgotten.”
Martha took a deep breath.
“He looked me straight in the eyes and said, ‘Mom, if smoking is so bad, why do you do it?’”
I listened silently.
“I didn’t have an answer. Instead of admitting I was wrong, I made excuses. Years passed, and Daniel became a smoker too. He grew up, started a family, but never managed to completely break the habit.”
Tears filled Martha’s eyes.
“When he was forty-two, he became seriously ill. The doctors told us smoking had badly damaged his health. We lost him. And ever since that day, I’ve woken up every morning asking myself the same question: Why didn’t I listen to my son when I had the chance?”
