“Why did you never tell me about this?” I asked. “My life really began when I met your Dad,” was her reply. “I decided long ago that all our happiness depended on looking forward and not back. I haven’t read it because I know what happened, I was there." It was an emotional moment for us both. I put my arms around my mother and asked: “Can I have it translated? And might you tell me about your experiences now?” I was very proud of her response. “Yes,” she said. “It deserves to be read. And perhaps the time has...