From Now On

'From now on' were three words I hesitated to use for fear they might not go over well with my lovely daughter. Taking her home one day, my daughter replied to me with two words saying, "Until then". I was expressing my frustration by questioning her ability to get along in life without my assistance. I wondered with her about how long it might take her to be fully emancipated. I was thinking of a 'not too distant future time' and looking for a gentle way to say, "From Now On, you are on your own". Yes, a divorced and single mom, she was already on her own with three kids. Yes, she was very industrious and self-reliant, but it seemed that I desired to speed up the process of total emancipation. Her reply indicated to me that although she was a very capable young lady, she would be utilizing me as long as I was available. I was deeply moved and inspired by her two words, "Until then". In that very brief conversation, I came to realize in a personal and close-up way that 'her growth and maturity' was greatly linked to the word 'Then". Since then, I have been more aware that emancipation is a two-way process; and I am also allowing the 'Then Time' to come more sooner than later. And since then, it is getting much closer to those most dreadful three words, "From Now On". 05222018; Condensed and edited for Contest, From Now On, Nayda Negron