Educated

The door opened, a sliver at first, then wider, and there was my mother, her
skin glistening from the shower, wrapped in a towel that was too small to
cover her. I had never seen my mother so exposed, and instinctively I closed
my eyes. The world went black. I heard a thud, the cracking of plastic, and
opened my eyes. Mother had dropped the blow-dryer and it had struck the
floor, its roar now doubled as it rebounded off the exposed concrete. I looked
at her, and as I did she pulled me to her and held me. The wet from her body
seeped into my clothes, and I felt droplets slide from her hair and onto my
shoulder.