She Cries...

Xia cries.
The first time I held her at age 2
she cried.
When I would look at her
she cried.
looking in the mirror
she cried.
Even though starving... my attempts to get her to eat
made her cry.
In her sleep
she cried.
She cried when she was full.
She cried when she was hungry.
She cried when I held her.
She cried when I let her go.
As she smiled
she cried.
THEN
I forgot
She forgot
2.5 years has passed
and
we forgot that Xia cries.
I spent a lot of time with her parents in Ethiopia two weeks ago
and they asked me
"Does she cry?"
because they said
"Xia cries".
my answer
NO.
I haven't heard the Xia cry for a long time.
She smiles...
She laughs..
She is happy...

Then today
she cried
and
cried
and
cried.
My first thought was shameful
why are you crying
I was irritated
then
I remembered
Xia cries.
and
so do I.
I didn't look for a reason or ask why
I just held her and cried too.